Cornwall Hospitality Collective Hosts First Sector-Wide Sustainability Event at Heligan

More than 50 hospitality businesses from across Cornwall gathered at The Lost Gardens of Heligan on Earth Day to take part in Roots: Planet, the county’s first sector-wide sustainability event designed specifically for the hospitality industry.

The event, held on Wednesday 22nd April 2026, was organised by Cornwall Hospitality Collective (CHC), a member-led Community Interest Company, and brought together a broad mix of operators including cafés, bars, award-winning hotels, visitor attractions, producers and suppliers.

A First for the County

Roots: Planet was designed as an inclusive space for businesses at every stage of their sustainability journey, offering talks, panel discussions and hands-on workshops. The aim was straightforward: give hospitality operators of all sizes the chance to learn from one another, share practical solutions and hear from some of Cornwall’s leading sustainability voices.

James Cavanagh Shaddock, co-founder and director of Cornwall Hospitality Collective, said: “Roots: Planet was created because there has never been a countywide space where hospitality businesses of all sizes could come together to talk openly and practically about sustainability, learn from one another, and share challenges and ideas. What we saw on Earth Day was exactly that – honest conversations, real examples and a genuine willingness to learn, whether you’re a one person operation or a large hotel. That shared sense of purpose is what makes Cornwall’s hospitality sector so special, and why we’re proud to represent and support it through our member led collective.”

Who Was in the Room

Speakers came from organisations working across every scale of the industry, including The Headland Hotel, St Austell Brewery, Watergate Bay Hotel, The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Tom Thumb, an independent bar in Newquay recognised as one of the UK’s most sustainable.

Topics covered included waste reduction, energy efficiency, team engagement, supplier partnerships and communicating sustainability credibly to customers, with a focus on making it all commercially viable rather than simply aspirational.

Jamie Garfield of Tom Thumb said: “One of the most powerful things about the event was that everyone was in the room together – independents, larger hotels and suppliers – all talking honestly about what sustainability looks like in practice. It was incredibly refreshing and showed that meaningful change, without losing sight of the bottom line, is possible at any scale.”

Alongside the talks and panels, delegates were able to explore a showcase of Cornish food, drink and sustainability suppliers, highlighting planet-positive products and services already in use across the county.

What Comes Next

Wednesday’s event is the first in a planned series of sustainability-focused events from CHC, with the aim of strengthening Cornwall’s hospitality sector through collaboration and shared learning.

Roots: Planet was delivered in collaboration with The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Watergate Bay Hotel, The Headland Hotel and Zero Carbon Company, with sponsorship from OH4 and Cornish Tea & Coffee, and further support from St Austell Brewery, Truro and Penwith College and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Membership of Cornwall Hospitality Collective is free for start-ups and from £18 per month for hospitality businesses. More information is available at cornwallhospitalitycollective.org.