Breaking news
Paul and Emma Ainsworth have acquired this boutique property, which overlooks the Camel Estuary and currently comprises 21 rooms, a restaurant and beauty rooms. The only hotel in Rock, it's within walking distance to some of the country’s best beaches including Daymer Bay.
Paul comments: “Emma and I have long admired The St Enodoc and are absolutely delighted to become its new owners and custodians. This landmark hotel is set in a stunning location right on our doorstep. We are excited to welcome this wonderful hotel to The Ainsworth Collection and further build on its legacy. We have no immediate plans to change the style of the hotel - our priority is ensuring a seamless employment transition for the St Enodoc team while welcoming them to the Ainsworth Collection family, to get to know our new business, and to create a warm welcome for guests. We can’t wait to start our journey with this lovely hotel and commence the next chapter in St Enodoc’s story.”
Harden's says
The fine-dining space at St Enodoc Hotel (once occupied by Nathan Outlaw) is now an "intimate, tasting menu restaurant celebrating the best of Cornwall" with Guy Owen, ex-Idle Rocks, at the helm.
Harden's survey result
Summary
Paul & Emma Ainsworth continue to extend their group, with the January 2025 acquisition of this well-known 100-year-old hotel, with fine views of the Camel Estuary (over to Padstow, and their original flagship No. 6). With its fine position and culinary history – for example as a former stepping stone in building Nathan Outlaw’s empire – it’s an exciting proposition, although that remains somewhat in the future for the time being – former exec chef Guy Owen moved on in May 2025 and for the time being the main dining room has lost its ‘Karrek’ name and is operating in an upmarket but unambitious brasserie mould (with main plates such as Smash Burger, Piri Piri chicken schnitzel and Cornish Carbonara). If the Ainsworths’ July 2025 plans are accepted, though, to create a new garden room restaurant, a leap up in ambition can be expected.
Summary
The dining room at this smart century-old hotel has long been one of Cornwall’s prime culinary destinations, but the volume and tenor of feedback was more muted this year, so we’ve left it un-rated for the time being. There’s a choice of tasting menus in six or nine courses, and less of a focus on seafood than in the Nathan Outlaw era of a few years back. Karrek is apparently Cornish for Rock.
Summary
With its good views over the estuary, this 1920s hotel (owned since 2019 by Lucy & James Strachan and family) has a prime position in this chichi resort, and in former incarnations has provided a springboard for the likes of Nathan Outlaw. With its choice of 6-course and 9-course tasting menus, it inspires as yet limited feedback, but all of it rapturous.
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at St Enodoc Hotel?
Rock Road, Rock, PL27 6LA
Restaurant details
Prices
 Drinks |
|
|---|---|
| Wine per bottle | £33.00 |
| Filter Coffee | £4.50 |
 Extras |
|
|---|---|
| Bread | £7.50 |
| Service | 12.50% |
Rock Road, Rock, PL27 6LA
Opening hours
| Monday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Tuesday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Wednesday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Thursday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Friday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Saturday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
| Sunday | 12 pm‑2:15pm, 6 pm‑8:45pm |
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