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Old Quay House - Fowey

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Chic waterfront bolthole

The idyllic Cornwall fishing port at Fowey has entranced the great and the good for decades. Everyone from Richard & Judy to Jesus (who, legend has it, visited Fowey as a child with Joseph of Arimathea) has fallen in love with the little harbour, and we challenge you not to do the same. Sitting at the mouth of the pretty River Fowey, cottages line the town’s waterfront, and boats bob up and down in the estuary, which is lined with lush greenery and offers enticing views out to sea.

Old Quay House couldn’t have a better position, right in the middle of all this loveliness. A chic boutique bolthole, with the most spectacular views across the water, the feel is more sunlit house in The Hamptons than Cornwall mining cottage, but Old Quay House fits into its beautiful surroundings effortlessly. Twelve super-stylish bedrooms have individual designs - some with a rattan and pale wood beach-hut appeal, some more sumptuous and worthy of a Manhattan apartment. All have the luxuries you need for a decadent weekend away - gorgeous bed linen, beautiful en-suite bathrooms with fab toiletries and fluffy towels, flat screen tellies and DVD players. But the star attraction are the views - seven of the bedrooms, including the amazing Penthouse Suite, have on-the-water vistas over the estuary, with some even having small balconies - perfect for romantic, pre-dinner sundowners.

Downstairs, the award-winning ‘Q’ restaurant at Old Quay House is as stylish and delicious as you would expect. Right on the water, with a great al-fresco terrace for summer dining, the dining room is light, airy and modern, attracting fans from all over Cornwall. The menu is all about the freshest local ingredients - no surprises, then, that the seafood is spectacular - with British, French and Italian influences. A very explorable wine list and puddings to die for are more than the icing on the cake. Q’s lunch menu is no less perfect.

Where is it?

Fowey (pronounced Foy) sits on the South Cornwall coastline, stretching for almost a mile along the banks of the Fowey Estuary. The spot is an Official Area of Outstanding Beauty, and it’s all, unsurprisingly a bit of a tourist hotspot. The town is even a destination for a number of smaller cruiseships and is a favourite second home for wealthy city-dwellers, including a whole list of well-known names. Luckily, it’s history as busy shipping port means that Fowey is well-equipped for visitors and emits a pleasant buzz over the summer months, rather than a feeling of being over-run.


The town is a potterer’s paradise, with pretty boutiques, art galleries and foodie shops lining the Fowey’s narrow streets, wharves and quays. The higher part of town has cobbled streets and a sparsity of cars - visit the Church of St Finn Barr, the town’s mainly fifteenth-century parish church, that endured attacks from pirates and the French, before surviving in its current encarnation. The church tower is Fowey’s most prominent waypoint from the water, along with the elaborate tower attached to the Grade-I listed Place House, a 13th century Fowey landmark that’s best viewed from your boat. For the best over-view of the town and its fascinating history, take a tour on one of the four-by-four-pulled trailers that potter about during the summer months (www.foweytowntours.co.uk Tel: 01726 832350) - you can catch them at the Town Quay.

Fowey is perhaps best-known for its literary connections - Daphne Du Maurieri is the town’s most famous story-telling resident, along with Kenneth Grahame, Leo Warmsley and Sir Arthur Quiller Couch (‘Q’) - and there’s plenty of opportunity to see the town through their eyes. The Daphne Du Maurier Literary Centre (Tel: 01728 83361) is the perfect place to start. Real buffs should make sure their visit coincides with the annual Daphne Du Maurier Festival of Art and Literature (www.dumaurierfestival.co.uk), a great big mixture of music, theatre, talks and walks that takes place every May (around Daphne’s birthday). At the same time, the Fowey Fringe Festival (www.foweyfringe.co.uk) ups the entertainment factor with a full programme of local live music.

Of course, wherever you are in Fowey you can’t escape the water, and there’s plenty of opportunities to get afloat. For a romantic and tranquil chug up-river, you could hire an Orkney Longliner (www.fowey-river-boat-hire.co.uk Tel: 01726 832874) and try your hand at some trout fishing or just moor up at a tranqiul spot and enjoy a picnic. Alternatively, you could venture out to sea with Fowey Marine Adventures (www.fowey-marine-adventures.co.uk Tel: 01726 832300) - joining a fast RIB to explore the nature reserve at Looe Island or stopping off at gorgeous little Polperro village. If you want to work a little harder, take a lesson in a traditional wooden sailing dinghy (www.foweyriversailing.com Tel: 01208 873 721).

One of the most obvious boat rides is the trip, by ferry, across the estuary to the ancient fishing village of Polruan. The tiny village has one main road, a village stores and two pubs, but is beautifully unspoilt and an oasis of calm compared to its bustling neighbour. The 4-mile Hall Walk, regular cited as one of the most scenic walks in the UK, takes in Polruan, from where you walk to the even tinier water-side village of Bodinnick, before taking the ferry back to Fowey. For a full map and directions, pop into Fowey’s Tourist Information Office. Land-lubbers looking for adventure in Fowey won’t feel left out, as the river, the estuary, the coastline and the whole beautiful county of Cornwall are ripe with walk, trails and cycle routes. For some of the best, log on to the great Walking World website (www.walkingworld.com). For a more relaxing day out, head for one of the pretty, sandy beaches close by. Great Lantic Beach and Little Lantic Beach can both be reached by the coastal path from Polruan, or easily by car - there’s a small car park at great Lantic.

The rest of Cornwall is all within easy reach if the delights of Fowey aren’t enough to keep you occupied. The Eden Project (www.edenproject.com Tel: 01726 811 911) is just 7 miles away, while the romantic Lost Gardens of Heligan (www.heligan.com Tel: 01726 845100) are a half an hour’s drive west.

Where can I eat?

The obvious choice is ‘Q’ at Old Quay House. Not only are the food and general surroundings fantastic, but there’s nothing better than enjoying an amazing meal and a bottle (or two) of vino, safe in the knowledge that your bed is within stumbling distance.

If you are after alternatives, however, there are plenty of great places to eat nearby. For a mouthwatering and award-winning Michelin-starred menu, created by a three-time Michelin-starred Chef, head to Restaurant Nathan Outlaw (www.themarinahotel.co.uk Tel: 01726 833315) along the waterfront from Old Quay House. Modern, innovative and exciting dishes are served up in a chic and airy dining room, with a big emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients. Book well ahead - this is a bit of a West Country foodie mecca.

Completely different, but just as much of a must-visit, is local favourite Sam’s (www.samsfowey.co.uk Tel: 01726 832273) - a laid-back and quirky cafe/diner that serves up delicious local seafood and simple, bistro-style dishes. Sister restaurant Sam’s Other Place (Tel: 01726 833636), also on Fore Street, is a little more chilled, but with equally delicious menus and great views out across the water. For more great freshly-caught fish, try friendly Food for Thought (www.foodforthought.fowey.com Tel: 01726 832221) or the Toll Bar (www.thetollbar.co.uk Tel: 01726 833001).

Fowey’s pubs offer a delicious, eating alternative, with the added bonus of ales on tap. The smart dining room at the King of Prussia (Tel: 01726 833694) is a good choice, with lots of lovely local ingredients on offer, while the Ship Inn (Tel: 01726 832230) on Trafalgar Square - one of the oldest buildings in Fowey - is a more traditional option.

One more mention must go to Pinky Murphy’s Cafe (www.pinkymurphys.com Tel: 01726 832512), a colourful, quirky and cosy cafe that serves a mean breakfast and delicious light lunches. Perfect when you just want to sit back and nothing much else.

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Old Quay House couldn’t have a better position, right in the middle of Fowey's loveliness. A chic boutique bolthole, with the most spectacular views across the water, the feel is more sunlit house in The Hamptons than Cornwall mining cottage.