Dear Surfer,

Thank you for finding our web site and interest in The Fieldhead Hotel.

The reason for this page is I would like to emphasise the AA sign here signifies we are a 2 star hotel. We are also rated 80% for care and hospitality, so we are a highly rated (and proud) 2 star hotel and far better than your average 2 star hotel.

As we all know, people come to Cornwall for the sea and sea views. Here at The elevated Fieldhead Hotel we have unsurpassed sea views and a stones throw from the sea. On arrival and during their stay, many guests are astounded to discover that with all we offer with our standards of rooms, service, food, care, attention, hospitality, atmosphere and free amenities of heated swimming pool, free on site parking and free internet access and all often attributable to larger and more recognised hotels that we are only 2 stars.

Almost daily someone will ask, “Why are you only 2 stars? I would have thought you would be at least 3(, 4 and even on some occasions 5) star”. Okay, 5 star is very kind, optimistically kind, but the thought was there. Thank you.

So while we do project ourselves to the best of our ability (it would be a strange hotel that only showed the kitchen or dishwashing areas on their web site, both of which we are proud that guests are able to view while staying and can also be seen on our web site) it must be remembered we are a 2 star hotel.

On the other hand, we have had more than our fair share of guests looking at this AA 2 star sign (or even the pictures on our web site) and seeing us as a 5 star hotel. 2 little yellow stars mean we are a 2 star hotel, and not 5 star.

We have even had a guest thinking he was booking a 5 star hotel and getting a massive discount comparing us to the Luxury Marriott Hotels chain he had recently stayed at. On his departure he and his partner to whom he has been married for a number of years by some special licence, then reported us to Trading Standards claiming our web site is misleading because we do not have fresh bouquets of flowers in every room which they claim our web site shows and that our flowering plant in the Sitting Room is “dying”; Then to The Police saying our security was inadequate, and then to Adam, the Editor at The Good Hotel Guide. I presume because we are not a 5 star hotel and Adam will rectify that; and then to The Cornwall Fire Brigade complaining our Fire Protection was inadequate. He withdrew the last complaint when he was informed The Cornwall Fire Brigade had visited the property the day before his visit and other than a bit of new legislation, which is currently being addressed, found the hotel to be 100% in order. If you wish to check this, the visiting officer was from the Bodmin Fire Brigade and his name is Mr T. O’………e.

We wait with relish the visit from Trading Standards and The Police as they can only offer us excellent advice on how to improve or find everything quite in order and the complaint unfounded. Either way we are very happy and benefit from the experience. (We don’t still have hanging in this country, do we? 5 star hanging?)

We hope that The Good Hotel Guide will also guide us to do whatever it is the couple wish them to do to us.

Another guest thought we were like the Luxury De Vere Hotel chain – accolades indeed, but wrong.

There is a web site called TripAdvisor where guests leave their comments via a review. While we get many accolades there are those negative reviews generally because they seem to think they have booked an hotel of 3, 4 and even 5 stars – and then write a negative review because what they got was a 2 star hotel as advertised. We have aspirations, but 5 star really is beyond us.

These guests are those who are understandably disappointed – but not with the price!! They expect to be greeted by a great raft of hotel security; swathes of falsely smiling foreign Receptionists (ours are Home-grown English), a school of Hall Porters across a great marbled floored and walled “Concierge” and Reception Hall. White gloved dinner waiters. Flambées. Silver Flats and vegetable dishes. Gerridon Service – we believe Chefs cook and Waiters do what they do best - wait. Pianist at the Grand. That is not us.

We do aspire to be a great deal better than our derisory 2 Stars however, and that is what our guests enjoy and love about the Fieldhead and why we have a host – 75% - of guests who come back to us on an annual basis and not only year on year but several times a year, and they know we are 2 Star and are happy and relaxed with all that we offer – and presumably the price.

If you mistake us for a 5 star hotel, please do not take it out on us, frankly, do not even waste the time of the Authorities as the above couple have already done and it will not need doing again.

Please book us knowing we are a 2 star hotel and we hope you will be very happy, enjoy the experience and all that The Fieldhead Hotel has to offer. Book us as a 5 star hotel and you will be very unhappy.

You are doing the reading. We only advertise ourselves as we are.