Sleeps 21 | 12 bedrooms | 8 bathrooms | Games room | Sea views | Parking for 8

Overview of Porthpean House

Porthpean House is a substantial 19th-century Grade II listed holiday home on Cornwall's south coast, accommodating up to 21 guests in 12 bedrooms. Set in around 10 acres of gardens above Porthpean Beach, the house has direct access to the sand via a rough path through the grounds, with many rooms enjoying views across St Austell Bay.

The size and layout make Porthpean House particularly well suited to large family gatherings and groups of friends. Downstairs there is an elegant drawing room with an open fire and grand piano, a separate snug, office, formal dining room and games room. Two fully equipped kitchens provide additional cooking and food-storage space when the house is occupied by a full group.

All 21 guests sleep in permanent beds rather than sofa beds or temporary sleeping areas. There is one twin bedroom on the ground floor and a further 11 bedrooms upstairs, along with eight bathrooms and shower rooms across the house.

The location is equally distinctive. Porthpean Beach is around 50 yards below the house, the South West Coast Path passes close by and historic Charlestown is around a mile away. The property itself also has an unusual piece of film history: it was used as the family home in Richard Curtis's 2013 film About Time.

Porthpean House at a Glance

Why is Porthpean House a Great Large Holiday Home?

• Sleeps 21 in 12 permanent bedrooms, with no sofa beds needed to reach full occupancy.
• Direct access to Porthpean Beach, around 50 yards below the house.
• Around 10 acres of gardens and grounds overlooking the Cornish coast.
• Multiple living spaces, including a drawing room, snug, office and games room.
• Two fully equipped kitchens, particularly useful when catering for a group of 21.
• Eight bathrooms and shower rooms spread across the house.
• Sea views from many rooms, including five of the first-floor bedrooms.
• Parking for eight cars, helping larger groups arriving separately.

FAQs

How many people does Porthpean House sleep?

Porthpean House sleeps up to 21 guests in 12 bedrooms. The booking provider also allows up to two infants in addition to the standard occupancy.

How are the 21 guests accommodated?

The house has one ground-floor twin bedroom and 11 bedrooms upstairs. Across the property there are three super-king bedrooms, one king bedroom, five twin bedrooms and three single bedrooms, providing permanent bed space for all 21 guests.

How close is Porthpean House to the beach?

Porthpean Beach is around 50 yards below the property. A rough path through the grounds provides direct access to the beach.

Does Porthpean House have a games room?

Yes. There is a separate games room with a 50-inch television and table football, as well as sea views and doors opening towards the garden.

Are dogs welcome at Porthpean House?

Yes. Up to two medium-sized dogs are accepted, with a charge payable per dog. The extensive garden is not fully enclosed, so dogs need supervision outside.

Is Porthpean House the house from About Time?

Yes. The property was used as the family home in Richard Curtis's 2013 film About Time, something also confirmed by the property's own website.

Bedrooms & Bathrooms at Porthpean House

Porthpean House has 12 bedrooms and eight bathrooms or shower rooms, with enough permanent beds for all 21 guests. This makes the sleeping arrangement particularly suitable for a genuine large-group stay, as the maximum occupancy does not rely on sofa beds or temporary sleeping spaces.

Bedroom Layout

Five of the bedrooms at the front of the house have sea views.

Bathroom Layout

The ground floor has a separate shower room and WC close to the twin bedroom. Upstairs there are two en-suite bathrooms, four further bathrooms and a family shower room, bringing the overall total to eight bathroom or shower facilities.

How does the layout work for a group of 21?

The bedroom configuration is one of Porthpean House's biggest strengths for larger groups. There are four double rooms, five twin rooms and three single rooms in total, so everyone has a proper bedroom space.

The combination is particularly useful for extended families and mixed groups because it does not assume that every guest is part of a couple. The single and twin rooms provide much more flexibility for children, teenagers and adults travelling separately.

There is a ground-floor twin bedroom, but I would not describe Porthpean House as Accessible Accommodation without further verification. The nearby shower room involves a few steps, and the path from the garden to the beach is described as rough.

Facilities & Information at Porthpean House

Porthpean House has the scale of facilities needed for a group of more than 20 people. There are two separate kitchens, with two fridge-freezers, two dishwashers, two microwaves and two electric hobs and ovens between them. A washing machine and tumble dryer are also provided.

The formal dining room has a large table seating up to 20 guests. Elsewhere, the main kitchen has seating for ten and the second kitchen has seating for eight, providing additional places for breakfasts and informal meals.

Living space is spread across several rooms. The drawing room has sea views, an open fire and grand piano, while there is also a separate snug, office and games room. The games room includes table football and a 50-inch television.

Outside, around 10 acres of lawns and gardens extend towards the coast. Garden furniture and a barbecue are provided, and a rough path leads from the grounds directly down to Porthpean Beach. The gardens are not fully enclosed.

Facilities

Facility	Details
Kitchens	2 fully equipped kitchens
Dishwashers	2
Fridge-freezers	2
Ovens and hobs	2 sets
Microwaves	2
Games room	Table football and 50-inch TV
Living spaces	Drawing room, snug, office and games room
Real fire	Open fire in drawing room
WiFi	Yes
Washing machine	Yes
Tumble dryer	Yes
Garden	Around 10 acres
Barbecue	Yes
Parking	8 cars
Dogs	Maximum 2 medium-sized dogs

 

Important Information

Maximum occupancy	21 guests plus 2 infants
Dogs	Up to 2 medium-sized dogs
Dog charge	£30 per dog per stay at time of research
Security deposit	£500 refundable deposit
Garden	Not fully enclosed
Stairgates	Available
Preferred changeover	Friday
Check-in	4pm
Check-out	10am
Parking	8 cars

Location & Things to Do Near Porthpean House

Porthpean House sits above Porthpean Beach on the south Cornwall coast, overlooking St Austell Bay. A path through the property's grounds leads directly to the sandy beach around 50 yards below, while the South West Coast Path provides coastal walking close to the house.

Historic Charlestown is around a mile away and offers harbour-side pubs, restaurants and cafés. St Austell is approximately two miles away for supermarkets and a wider range of shops and services.

The house is also well positioned for some of Cornwall's major attractions. The Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan can both be reached in around 15 minutes by car, while Mevagissey is approximately five miles away and Fowey around eight miles.

For golfers, Carlyon Bay Golf Club is around two miles away, while days out can also include the beaches around St Austell Bay, cycling from Pentewan and exploring the fishing villages and coastal scenery of south Cornwall.

Nearby Places