The Idle Rocks

We have just had a wonderful 2 night break here.I cant recommend it enough.If you want a chilled break..with fantastic rooms..food and staff.this is a must.We will definately be returning.Everything about this hotel is amazing and of very high quality.The moet that is served at breakfast was a lovly treat..as was the best brulee french toast.

Unfortunately something has changed since out last stay a year ago, and not for the better. We had dinner there of Friday 13th December. Maybe that was the wrong day to go! We ordered pre-dinner drinks, a glass of champagne and a vodka based dry martini. When I tasted it, it was sweet so took it back to the bar. The barman had added normal martini to the vodka. When I explained it needed to be dry vermouth he said he'd make me a new one. 5 minutes later he came to us and said they had no dry vermouth, so I had a glass of wine. There were no complimentary nibbles. The menus came but no canapes. We sat down at the table and were offered no bread. My starter was the mackerel and was delicious and my wife had the 'rabbit pie'. It was overly rich and salty and almost inedible. My main was suckling pig (which was actually a piece of belly pork). The sauce was over reduced and salty which spoiled an otherwise decent meal. My wife had the wild mushroom cottage pie which was inedible. It was based on the same over reduced, salty, strong sauce. Doesn't the chef taste the food they prepare? If you charge London prices in Cornwall in the winter you need to pamper your guests. The nibbles and canapes you used to serve were delicious and a lovely touch. The variety of breads you used to offer were a delight. Why have you stopped? Given that, and the poor quality of the food, you present yourself as no more than average as with hundreds of other restaurants in Cornwall. The difference is that you charge a fortune for the privilege. At the prices you charge for drinks and food, you can afford to pamper your guests with small things like canapes and nice bread. That's not expensive, that's what can differentiate you. For the first time in 6 stays, we felt like customers in the restaurant not guests. I should add that all the staff (we didn't meet your kitchen staff) were very friendly and helpful, a real credit to you. The hotel room was great and the bed very comfortable, as usual. And you can't beat the location. If we do stay again next year, we'll probably drink and eat elsewhere in St Mawes.

Lovely hotel in a fabulous location. Staff very friendly and helpful. Excellent food. Our room was exactly as per picture and had the sea lapping under the window when the tide was in. A nice range of shops and alternative places to eat to walk to nearby.