Inside the Cornish hotel hosting the G7 summit this summer
In June, seven of the world’s most powerful leaders will be heading to the butter-coloured sands and seaside villages of West Cornwall for the annual G7 summit.
The event will see political leaders from the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States (plus delegations from other countries) descend on St Ives and Carbis Bay which are known for their year-round beaches, subtropical flora and fauna, and crystalline waters.
The official meeting (June 11-13) will take place at the Carbis Bay Estate and Hotel which occupies 125 acres of the pretty coastal enclave with excellent restaurants, a superb spa, watersports, a pool and myriad accommodation options including 38 stylish rooms in the main house, plus woodland cottages and beach houses, lodges and suites.
Carbis Bay’s main house, erected by celebrated Cornish architect Sylvanus Trevail in 1894, blends historic grandeur – gilt mirrors, chandeliers – with cheery interior touches by co-owner Josie Baker. Including off-white armchairs and lamps made from stacked pebbles, these abound with low-key seaside chic.
Buildings around and just off the estate deliver extra space, plus the same smart interiors. Some offer self-catering. Most appealing are a pair of two-storey, balconied Beach Houses, offering direct access onto the sand, and the eight Beach Lodges with spectacular views across the bay towards Godrevy lighthouse.
Each lodge has a neutral colour scheme, mixing textures, patterns and nautical touches such as a rope handrail on a spiral staircase. The sophisticated seaside style flows well throughout the lodge, and huge glass sliding doors open up onto the decking overlooking the beach – garden furniture, blankets and flip flops are all provided too. Lodges have their own private hot tub (fluffy white bathrobes hang in every wardrobe).
Fuelling the event will be the estate's pick of fine dining and casual eateries, including the formal Sands restaurant which stretches across a broad, chandeliered room and sofa-happy conservatory where pianists play.
Boasting two AA Rosettes, its food plays around on local produce with tempting dishes such as venison loin with blueberry confit and fresh seafood direct from St Ives (think grilled whole megrim sole or fillet of sea bass). Cornish breakfasts are served here too, consisting of a buffet, hot fry-ups and egg concoctions.
A more casual atmosphere can be found at the oceanside Beach Café – the menu includes sharing platters for steamed local mussels or king prawn crayfish linguine. Just up the road, at the estate-owned Gannet Inn, the party can choose from the Gannet grill or delicious modern British mains such as beef fillet tournedos rossini or beef and pulled brisket burger.
For any downtime between meetings, the hotel’s most slumberous spot is its C-Bay Spa, whose three treatment rooms abut a barrel sauna and sea-view terrace. Below that is the heated, seasonal 16m pool. Further down is the beach itself – this is the only British hotel to have its own Blue Flag beach – where paddleboards, canoes and, less energetically, a beach hut replete with hot tub can all be rented. There’s even an eight-person Sunseeker yacht for hire if the more adventurous delegates choose to take to the high seas.
Other than that it's a two-minute walk up to the train station that links St Erth to St Ives, or an easy two-mile walk along the coast path to St Ives where Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum are highlights.
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