In a bold move to support British holidaymakers, the owner of a luxury Cornwall hotel has announced a scheme to cover the increased petrol costs for visitors driving to the property. The St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa, located in the stylish coastal village of Rock, is providing financial incentives to ease the burden of rising fuel prices for staycationers.
Addressing the Fuel Price Crisis
Global uncertainty and escalating oil prices, partly due to conflicts such as the Iran war, have led to a significant surge in fuel costs across the UK. Drivers are currently facing approximately a 15 per cent increase in petrol prices and a 20 per cent rise in diesel costs each time they fill their tanks. This situation has been exacerbated by warnings from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which recently predicted that Europe might have only about six weeks of jet fuel remaining, highlighting broader energy concerns.
Innovative Hospitality Response
Hugh Ridgway, co-founder of St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa, explained the rationale behind the initiative in an interview with the Daily Mail. 'We have to be very innovative, very deft of foot in the hospitality industry at the moment, because the government is just making life so difficult for us,' he stated. 'We were very aware of the problems with aviation and that fuel surcharges would be coming down the track. We thought about our own customers, knowing that if they drive to us and we decided to pay for the uplift in fuel.'
The hotel has launched a new discount programme, cheekily named 'pumped up petrol prices be damned', which reimburses guests for the additional petrol expenses incurred during their journey to Cornwall. To implement this, the hotel divided the country into postcode zones, offering varying rebates based on travel distance.
Postcode-Based Rebate Structure
The St Moritz team has carefully grouped postcodes to provide tailored support:
- For visitors from Wales and the South West, the Tank-Top-Up code grants a £15 discount.
- Those driving from the South East, London, and the Midlands can use the Say-No-To-Surcharges code for a £20 reduction.
- Guests travelling from the North and Scotland benefit from the Fuel-My-Holiday code, which offers a £30 discount per carload.
Hugh Ridgway emphasised the importance of this support: 'If you live in the Home Counties, it's going to cost you about an extra £20, because we're very aware down here on the lovely north coast of Cornwall that, you know, we're not just a Tube ride away. It takes effort. People have to get into their cars and if we can help them to get down here, we will because we know they'll have an absolutely fabulous holiday.'
Encouraging Staycations Amid Travel Shifts
This initiative comes at a time when many Britons are reconsidering their holiday plans. A recent survey revealed that up to 40 per cent of holidaymakers who initially intended to travel abroad during the Easter break are now opting for domestic stays instead. The RAC reported that over 19 million UK road trips were taken during the Easter holidays in 2025, with significant influxes to Cornwall and the South West during the early and late May bank holidays as well.
Steve Ridgway, co-founder of the hotel and former Visit Britain Chairman, highlighted the broader context: 'The Great British hospitality industry has to pivot once again and find yet more exciting ways to encourage our much-valued staycationers to book their getaways in our midst. Whilst the St Moritz team can't control global security or Trump being Trump, we can offer to take the strain of the additional driving costs for our UK guests.'
Offer Details and Guest Response
The petrol rebate offer is available for all new bookings across the St Moritz's extensive accommodation options, including hotel rooms, suites, apartments, penthouses, and houses. To qualify, bookings must be made by 30 April, with stays taken before 1 July. Hugh Ridgway reported positive feedback, noting: 'So far, we've had very good take-up. Our customers have been absolutely delighted, and we've had a lot of interest.'
He further elaborated on the hotel's philosophy: '"Cost creep" and the constant headlines are concerning for everyone, so with "pumped up petrol prices be damned" we're cutting any barriers to booking and helping everyone reclaim the much-needed joy of getting away. It's about celebrating the simplicity of the great British break: of that feeling of packing up the car, getting on the road, and knowing you've got a jolly good Cornish time ahead of you.'
The St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa promotes itself as a destination for 'coastal calm, relaxed luxury, good food, nature's playground, fresh air, the space to breathe, and the ability to just be.' This petrol payback scheme, accessible via the hotel's website with relevant discount codes, aims to enhance that experience by removing financial hurdles for travellers seeking a peaceful escape in Cornwall.
