The Beach Club

Hotel Description

You know what strikes you first about The Beach Club? It’s actually right there on the Promenade – I mean, the name kind of gives it away, but when you’re walking along Penzance’s seafront and spot that classic Victorian facade, it just feels right. The building has this solid, reassuring presence that screams “proper seaside hotel” without trying too hard. I’ve stayed in plenty of places that promise sea views and deliver a sliver of blue between two buildings, but here you’re genuinely perched above Mount’s Bay with St. Michael’s Mount doing its whole fairy-tale castle thing right there in front of you.

The inside hits that sweet spot between smart enough for a special occasion but not so fancy you feel weird coming back from the beach with sandy feet. The rooms – well, they’re what you’d expect from a solid four-star place, nothing groundbreaking but honestly comfortable with decent bathrooms and proper tea-making facilities (the little things matter when you’re on holiday). What really works is how they’ve kept the character of the old building without making you feel like you’re sleeping in a museum. Some of the rooms can get a bit of noise from the Promenade, especially during summer evenings when everyone’s out for their after-dinner stroll, but that’s sort of part of the charm – you’re in the heart of things, not tucked away somewhere sterile. The staff actually seem to know Penzance pretty well too, which is rarer than you’d think. They pointed me toward the back streets for proper Cornish pasties instead of the tourist traps near the train station.

Here’s the thing about The Beach Club – it’s not trying to be the fanciest place in Cornwall, and that’s exactly why it works. The 7.5 rating feels about right; it’s genuinely good without being perfect, and sometimes that’s exactly what you want. You can walk to the Jubilee Pool (that amazing art deco lido that’s worth the trip alone), the Newlyn galleries are just down the coast, and honestly, you’re perfectly positioned for day trips to St. Ives or the Minack Theatre without the hassle of staying somewhere more remote. Plus, parking isn’t the nightmare it can be in some coastal towns – they’ve got their own spaces, which anyone who’s tried to park in St. Ives on a summer Saturday will appreciate. It’s the kind of place where you can have a proper seaside holiday without feeling like you’re roughing it or breaking the bank, and there’s something refreshingly honest about that approach.

Facilities