Hidden along a quiet country lane at Mawnan Smith between Falmouth and the Helford, Hotel Meudon is the only hotel set in Cornish subtropical gardens and boasts direct access to its own private beach, Bream Cove. Having undergone a sensitive and imaginative refurbishment, the hotel has been transformed into a stylish yet convivial home from home, with an exceptional guest experience and superlative dining. Nothing is too much trouble for the accomplished staff, on hand to share everything from favourite local haunts to tips on the best Cornish tipples and exotic plants.

The sublime location provides a relaxed ambience that is echoed by a light and stylish interior with a modernist accent. Celebrating the hotel’s heritage, design influences from the 1960s have been incorporated through colour, geometric patterns and smooth curves and edges, whilst maintaining a sense of being light, bright, stylish, and comfortable. A welcoming lounge area with open fireplace and views out down through the gardens is complemented by the cosy and sophisticated Freddie’s Bar and elegant restaurant with floor to ceiling windows showcasing the garden outlook.  The experience is completed with the tranquil Sanctuary Suite for the ultimate in pampering treatments and relaxation.

Located in a separate wing to the main reception rooms, the 29 bedrooms have been redesigned to include 22 Garden View Rooms (10 with balcony or terrace), four Sea View Rooms with balcony – akin to dwelling in the treetop canopy – two Garden View Suites with lounge area and a Large Sea View Suite, as well as an Inland Facing Suite with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The aspirational Cornish setting is integral to the food and drink being served by Executive Head Chef Darren Kerley and team, from the bountiful fresh fish and seafood to locally farmed meats and seasonal game and fresh herbs grown in the Meudon garden. This is underpinned by a nod to Nouvelle cuisine, further reflecting the hotel’s heritage: both its 1960s prime, the decade which gave birth to this new food movement, and its direct links to France attributable to the nearby farmhouses, which were built by Napoleonic prisoners of war and named for their eponymous home village in Paris. The hotel’s location – just off the South West Coast Path – glorious gardens and stunning setting, coupled with flexible, all day dining and decadent afternoon teas, will ensure it appeals to locals and visitors alike.

Guests don’t have to stray far from the hotel to enjoy wild swimming, snorkelling, kayaking and hiking from secluded Bream Cove, or boating and sailing on the Helford River. Or to explore nearby Trebah and Glendurgan gardens.

Rooms cost from £119 per night on a bed and breakfast basis (based on two people sharing in low season). For more information and to book visit their website.