Four Stars For Isles Of Scilly Star-Shaped Hotel

Sept. 2, 2011 - PRLog -- The Star Castle Hotel has become the latest four star option for visitors to the Isles of Scilly, the beautiful archipelago of islands that offer a peaceful haven of white sand beaches and lush tropical vegetation just off the tip of Cornwall.

The Star Castle,  built in 1593 in the shape of an eight pointed star, has just been upgraded by Visit England to four star status, receiving an additional special award for the high quality of breakfast and retaining its silver award for accommodation and service.   Within Visit England’s assessment, the hotel was praised in particular for its food, which was rated at five star level.    Chef, Gareth Stafford, presides over a superbly run kitchen, rising early every morning to make the freshly baked bread.  Everything in his kitchen is made from fresh ingredients sourced locally and from Cornwall, with vegetables, herbs and salads grown in the recently extended kitchen garden.  Hotel owner, Robert Francis, also an early riser, takes his fishing boat out most days to catch the lobsters and crabs that are served in the Conservatory seafood restaurant.  Meanwhile, Robert’s son and co-director of the hotel, James, presides over a team of staff that are described by Visit England as ‘very well managed and well motivated, delivering a service that is attentive but not obtrusive’ – who could ask for more?

Visit England’s assessor, Keith Salmon, commented “We are pleased to be able to raise the Star Castle’s rating from three to four stars to reflect the very good overall standard of accommodation, service and food quality. The management and team should be congratulated on the standards they have achieved”.

The Star Castle is steeped in history – in 1643 it sheltered the Prince of Wales,  it was the last stronghold of the Cavaliers and it was opened as an hotel in 1933 by the then Prince of Wales, later to become King Edward VIII.  The dining room was the original officer’s messroom and the cosy bar was once the dungeon, in which some of the country’s most notorious prisoners were incarcerated.

Today, it is a superb hotel, run by the Francis family and offering the perfect bolthole for visitors to the islands, with prices starting from £88 per person, based on two sharing a garden room on half board basis.  

For further information visit http://www.star-castle.co.uk or call 01720 422317.

ENDS