The Copley Arms reopens in Hessenford following full refurbishment

Hidden in the Seaton Valley, a centuries old riverside pub has just thrown open the doors to eight brand new bedrooms, and one of them comes with a feature most guests won’t be expecting to find right next to the bed.

The Copley Arms in Hessenford has reopened following a major refurbishment, with the historic 17th century pub now offering overnight stays for the first time since closing in January for the final phase of work. The bar and restaurant came back to life in February, and the pub welcomed its first overnight guests from Easter Friday.

A Husband and Wife Team at the Helm

The pub is owned by St Austell Brewery and run by Hannah and Jared Lothian, who also run the award winning Castle Inn in Lydford. The couple started their journey at The Copley Arms by giving the ground floor trade areas a sensitive refresh, with new flooring, restored period furniture and cosy seating nooks designed to show off the stone walls and beamed ceilings.

The latest phase has been considerably more involved. A dilapidated five bedroom cottage behind the pub, which had been taken out of use, has been fully renovated. The former staff flat above the pub has also been transformed, adding three more bedrooms to the mix.

“It really was a complete gut, walls down, everything,” said Hannah. “The builders have done a fantastic job, and we now have eight lovely bedrooms which we’ve decorated to feel calm, warm and unfussy. We wanted them to be simple, relaxing spaces where guests can genuinely switch off.”

Eight Rooms, One Showstopper

The pub now offers a mix of super king and king rooms, with three flexible rooms that can be set up as either super king or twin. At least five rooms can accommodate extra beds or cots, which makes the place a strong fit for families.

The room everyone will be talking about, though, is room three. The spacious double features a freestanding roll top bath within the bedroom itself, alongside double sinks in the en suite.

“It has real wow factor,” Hannah said. “It’s the first thing you see when you walk in. We have a room like it at our other pub, The Castle, and it works brilliantly, so we wanted to bring something equally special, calming and retreat like to The Copley Arms.”

All other rooms feature walk in rainfall showers, with Bramley toiletries throughout.

📷Commercial Photography for St Austell Brewery at the Copley Arms, Hessenford

A Riverside Setting With More to Come

Set beside the River Seaton, The Copley Arms has a popular riverside beer garden, and that’s getting an upgrade too. New raised decking is being added ahead of the summer to extend the outdoor space.

The pub is dog friendly throughout, reflecting its proximity to Seaton Beach, which is dog friendly all year round.

📷Commercial Photography for St Austell Brewery at the Copley Arms, Hessenford

Part of a Bigger Picture for St Austell Brewery

The Copley Arms is one of 120 leased and tenanted pubs in St Austell Brewery’s South West estate, and the fourth site to receive major investment from the business this year.

St Austell Brewery has also continued to invest across its 45 strong managed pub estate, with recent refurbishments including the Pedn Olva in St Ives, The Wellington in Boscastle and the Royal Castle in Dartmouth.

📷Commercial Photography for St Austell Brewery at the Copley Arms, Hessenford

📷Commercial Photography for St Austell Brewery at the Copley Arms, Hessenford

📷Commercial Photography for St Austell Brewery at the Copley Arms, Hessenford