Cornish Hobbit House inn sells for £600k

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Cornwall’s highest inn has been sold for about £600,000 – including its Hobbit Houses.

The specialist hotel agency team at Colliers has sold Wheal Tor, at Pensilva, near Liskeard, off a guide price of £590,000. The hotel went on the market in 2019 for £790,000, but this price was soon slashed to £695,00 for the freehold and now appears to have sold for less than that.

Charlotte and Adriano Kenilvort have brought the inn alongside Charlotte’s parents Paul and Winsome Riddle. The quartet all have experience in property renovation and have taken on their first hospitality project at Wheal Tor.

Situated in a secluded pine copse 996ft above sea level on Caradon Hill and overlooking Bodmin Moor, the inn has eight letting rooms as well as a range of unique glamping pods – called Hobbit Houses – in the 2.5 acres of grounds.

The inn also has a bar and restaurant for 45 covers and a large function room licensed for 85 guests. It was sold by Mark and Maxine Frost who are planning to retire.

Wheal Tor was once home to a Captain Seccombe who managed the East Caradon copper and tin mine. Guests can look out of the original window from which the miners were paid.

Charlotte said: “The moment we saw Wheal Tor we instantly fell in love with the beautiful location. There are breath-taking views for miles; sheep, ponies and cows roaming free on the moor, it truly is a very special place. We have taken this project on as a family, having spent many holidays in Cornwall as a family we feel very lucky to finally make it our home.

“We have vast experience in property renovation and are really excited about transforming Wheal Tor. We will create a beautiful, comfortable, relaxed place for our guests to enjoy, families and couples will be able to unwind and get back to nature either in a luxurious en-suite room or a cosy glamping pod.

“We also intend to host weddings and events, as well as welcome holiday makers and we already have a wonderful chef offering fresh cooked food from local suppliers.

“Wheal Tor is a dog-friendly site and a perfectly located base for exploring all of Cornwall. It also has a cosy, relaxed bar, which we have been enjoying as we get to know all our guests and local customers.”

Ed Jefferson, from Colliers’ hotels team, said: “Wheal Tor is such a unique business, offering something for everyone, made clear from the 49 viewings that it received post-lockdown. We’ve seen a trend of people re-evaluate their lifestyle and priorities, looking to start up their own business and moving away from city life since the pandemic began.

“With bespoke bedrooms as well as glamping pods and a function suite, there’s lots of scope to make the inn attractive for a wide range of customers. I’m looking forward to seeing what the family does with the business.”