Keep the whole family happy at the Retallack Resort & Spa this summer. StyleNest headed south to see what the five-star Cornish holiday resort had to offer. 
I’m sure we’d all love to jet off to a boutique bolthole every time a staycation is in order, but sometimes reality steps in. When children are in the picture, a Michelin star chef, an eco-spa or ‘pub with rooms’ just isn’t going to cut it. That’s where Cornwall’s Retallack Resort comes in.
Tucked away on the north coast of Cornwall, Retallack prides itself on being ‘close to everything’ the West Country has to offer. That is if you have a car. The resort’s immediate surroundings, all 100acres of countryside, are really rather rural, which is both Retallack’s unique selling point and its downfall. Its location gives guests the opportunity to explore Cornwall, from the food fueled Padstow 20minutes drive away, to the famous Eden project. But for those without the luxury of a vehicle, taxis with a hefty price tag are the only other way of getting out to explore.
Little ones however will be happy to spend their precious school holidays exclusively in the resort, thanks to its wealth of activities and entertainment on offer.
From Retallack’s FlowRider – an outdoor surfing simulator based in the resort itself, to the Kids Club at the Little Lodge, there’s plenty to keep youngsters of all ages entertained.
During our stay we had the pleasure of meeting the resort’s co-owner and director, Amy Keyter. A mum herself, Amy knows what little ones want, and together with co-owner and husband, Jason, they have worked together to create a seaside solace for families.
Their dreams for Retallack don’t stop there. The duo are constantly changing, adapting and expanding the resort with ideas for a kids’ adventure area and even a sushi restaurant (sure please mums and dads) on their five year plan.
After checking in at Retallack we jumped on one of the resort’s golf buggies and headed through the winding rows of holiday chalets to our abode for the weekend. The idyllic wooden huts make Retallack look more like an alpine resort, albeit without any mountains or snow, rather than north Cornwall.
We stayed in one of Retallack’s newest lodges, the 2-bed St. Ives, perfect for a family with two adults and two children. It had all the comforts of a home from home – fully kitted-out kitchen, sumptuous beds, family living room and dining area, Sky TV and Wi-Fi. But with luxury extras like an outdoor hot tub, sauna and calming views over the Retallack lake. Cosying up under blankets on the lodge’s decking, overlooking the lake was a weekend highlight.
All of Retallack’s properties are self-catering, which is ideal for families. However, for evenings when mum and dad want a night off, they can head to the resort’s Green Room restaurant.
You may recognise head chef, James Nathan as the winner of BBC’s 2008 Masterchef. The one-time barrister now serves up contemporary dishes inspired by Cornwall’s superb natural produce. We sampled a petit pois veloute amuse bouche, followed by roast duck and homemade sorbets to finish. The great thing about the restaurant is that parents can tuck into a delicious, decadent meal from one of Cornwall’s most upcoming and exciting chefs, whilst little ones will be kept happy with a varied menu a little more age appropriate.
It’s little details like this that make Retallack perfect for the whole family. Mum may be relaxing in the spa and the kids in the kids club, whilst dad’s probably unleashing his inner child on the FlowRider.
As owner Amy put it, “If the kids say they want to go back then you know it was worth the money.” We couldn’t agree more.
Need To Know:
Accomodation: Retallack offers a varied choice of accommodation, from Lakeside Appartments perfect for couples, to Luxury Holiday Homes that sleep up to 8 people.
Rates: The St. Ives lodge starts from £629.
Checkout Time: Check-in and check-out times vary and can be arranged on booking with reception.
Facilities in the St. Ives lodge: 1 super king double with en-suite, 1 twin room with en-suite, hot tub, log burner, sauna, cabana and outdoor fire, lake views, fully equipped kitchen, washing machine and dryer, downstairs WC with utility room, Wi-Fi access and phone, Sky TV kids, sports and movies, iPod dock and DVD player.
How to get there: Retallack Resort & Spa is best accessed by car, situated in Winnards Perch between Bodmin and Newquay. Bodmin is the nearest train station, about 25minute drive away, and 6miles from Newquay Cornwall Airport with flights available from a range of locations across the UK.
Retallack Resort & Spa, Winnards Perch, Nr Padstow, Cornwall TR9 6DE
Tel. 01637 882500