Luxury • History • Cornwall
Opening 2021
Nestled in the heart of Cornwall you’ll find The Bodmin Jail Hotel – a place that intertwines the history of an 18th century prison with creative, contemporary design to bring you a unique hotel experience. It will not only captivate your imagination but provide you with a luxurious escape from ordinary life.
Once used to house the Crown Jewels in WW1, Bodmin Jail now encapsulates beautifully elegant bedrooms created by combining three cells and their original features. Inside the weathered stone walls, you’ll find free-standing baths, walk-in showers and sumptuous bedding, all designed with comfort and luxury in mind to create the perfect setting for an enchanting escape.
When you step out of your room into the walkways, you’ll be captivated by the glass ceiling that creates a magical central space.
From here, you can easily explore the rugged beauty of Bodmin Moor, wander the sandy beaches of the North and South coastlines, or delve into the delights of Padstow or Fowey.
At our onsite restaurant, you can relish in an old English favourite of Afternoon Tea, enjoy classic British dishes or relax in The Chapel Bar with a glass of Champagne.
After almost 100 years of ruin, the renovated jail invites you to enjoy a stay full of endless possibilities, and our attentive team will be on hand to ensure your stay is everything you expect. The very fabric of our hotel is laced with history, heritage and heartfelt stories. Come and create yours.
Offers
Bodmin Jail Visitor Attraction Package
Walk through the dark, yet fascinating history of Bodmin Jail, dating back to the 1700s, with tickets for the attraction, accommodation in our supe...
Romance Package
Romance can be found at Bodmin Jail, lock yourself in to a great nights stay, on arrival you will be allocated your 'cell' we mean room, with some...
Eden Project Package
The Eden Project is nestled in a huge crater. Where biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity, stunning plants, exhibitions, striking contem...
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Nine species of bats had taken up residence in the ruins over the years. Twelve Architects worked with ecologists in the refurbishment of Bodmin Jail to create a bat bungalow where they were safely rehoused.
You will be able to say “I do” at Cornwall’s largest, most-luxurious wedding and events venue, with a capacity of up to 300 guests.
Breath-taking design work means each suite at Bodmin Jail has been made by merging three old cells together, each acting as a king-sized bedroom, an opulent living area and spacious bathroom, as well as a treasure trove of history.
In 2015 a businessman on holiday with his family visited Bodmin Jail on a rainy day and instantly fell in love with the iconic building and infinite depths of heritage hidden lurking within its walls. Six years later, his vision of turning this historical landmark into a world class hotel and tourist attraction has come true.
After being decommissioned and closing its doors in 1927, Bodmin Jail was initially turned into a casino and nightclub, before falling into disrepair. During the 30s and 40s attempts were made to demolish the structure, but the walls were so thick and well built – over one metre in places – that this proved impossible.
Between 1856 and 1861 an entirely new 220-cell jail was built on the site and the original buildings were removed. The new construction adhered to exacting standards laid out by reformers under the reign of Queen Victoria to give it the structure it has today.
While inmate numbers were low for the first two decades, extensions were required as numbers increased, with the final addition coming in 1850.
A ground-breaking milestone of modern design, Bodmin Jail began to form the new ideal for British prisons with individual cells, as well as segregated male and female areas and hot water. Inmates were even paid for carrying out prison work.
Full of intrigue, wonder and mystery, Bodmin Jail was built as part of the 18th century Prison Reform. Over 20,000 tones of local Delank granite and stone from the nearby Coocoo Quarry were used upon its completion under the reign of King George III in 1779.
Did you know: Our town’s name, Bodmin, is derived from the Cornish word ‘Bod-Menegh’, meaning the ‘abode of monks’, referring to the early monastic settlements found in the town dating back to 540AD.
We love our cosy guest rooms, and if you want to treat someone to a luxury getaway this Christmas, our gift vouchers are now live! Link in bio to find out more.
Sneak Peek...
Our guest rooms are luxurious through and through, filled with exposed features, fabrics and textures and rich in colour and history.
#luxuryhotel #bodminjail
Introducing The Jolly Hangman Tavern: our diner and wine bar serving Cornish coffees and family favourites inside the original stone walls of the jail.
We officially opened our doors on 27th October, but in line with the new government guidelines, we will be closed until it is safe to reopen. We hope to welcome you to our tavern soon!
Competition now closed. Win a luxury hotel stay & more...competition now live on our Facebook page - link in bio.
The very fabric of our hotel is laced with history, heritage and heartfelt stories. Are you ready to come and create yours?
Elegance, luxury & style all wrapped up into one beautiful staircase.
Take a sneak peek at The Chapel Bar...we’ve transformed the Governor’s Office into a luxurious cocktail bar that offers guests and the local community a cosy retreat.
All of our rooms feature a luxuriously deep free-standing bath and walk-in shower...the perfect retreat after a day of exploring #bodmin #bodminjail #visitcornwall #boutiquehotel #luxuryhotel #cornwall
After almost 100 years of ruin, we’ve injected new life into this historic landmark. We hope you will be in awe of the creative, contemporary design that weaves the past and present together. [CGI courtesy of @twelvearchitects] #bodmin #bodminjail #thebodminjailhotel #cornwall #renovation
A delicate balance between old & new...our beautiful guest bedrooms intertwine original jail features with cosy furnishings to create the perfect spot for a luxurious getaway. #visitcornwall #boutiquehotel #bodmin #bodminjailhotel #interiordesign @twelvearchitects