Falmouth's Membly Hall seafront hotel in Cornwall for sale

Membly Hall on Cliff Road has been put on the mark with a guide price of £3.2 million.

It has been run by the Andrew family for more than 70 years but they are now stepping back, with the hotel listed for sale with estate agents Laskowski & Co. The 37-bedroom hotel is set in a 0.7 acre plot, with parking for 30 cars, and also includes a two-bedroom owner’s apartment.

Membly Hall is on Cliff Road (Image: Google Street View)

Listed on Rightmove and LinkedIn, Laskowski have said: “A rare opportunity to acquire a landmark hotel, located within one of Cornwall's finest sea-fronting positions.

“Membly Hall has been owned and operated by our client's family for over 70 years, and comprises 37 guest bedrooms, two-bedroom owner's accommodation, vast communal areas, plentiful parking and boasts exceptional, uninterrupted, far-reaching views over Falmouth Bay and beyond.”

The hotel's dining room (Image: Laskowski & Co/Rightmove)

Information on the hotel’s website states that the hotel was established by the Andrew family, which has run it over seven decades.

It adds: “You will find members of the family working around the hotel during your visit, of which there are currently three generations.

“The Andrew family, along with its many staff, aim to provide you with a friendly and welcoming stay making you feel at home. We pride ourselves on the many guests that return to us year after year, some of which we now consider friends.”

The hotel overlooks Falmouth Bay (Image: Google Street View)

Before it was a hotel, however, Membly Hall played an important part in the Second World War.

Its website goes on to explain: "During the Second World War the hotel (originally two houses) was used by the navy to house personnel stationed at Falmouth Docks, located just five minutes away.

"The grounds surrounding the hotel were also used during the war as a base of operations for the raid on St Nazaire, which was an operation to attack a dry dock in Normandy by British forces on March 28th 1942."

An old postcard of Membly Hall (Image: Membly Hall)

Operation Chariot, as it was named, was a raid by Allied forces on St Nazaire in Normandy - specifically its huge dry dock – and was one of the most daring, courageous episodes of the Second World War.

The destroyer HMS Campbeltown, accompanied by 18 smaller craft, left Falmouth at 2pm on March 26, 1942, crossed the English Channel to the Atlantic coast of France and rammed into the Normandie dry dock south gate on March 28.

The ship had been packed with delayed-action explosives, well hidden within a steel and concrete case, that detonated later that day, putting the dock out of service until 1948.

The operation achieved its objectives but at a high price. Out of 611 Commandos who entered the Saint-Nazaire harbour, around only 200 succeeded in landing at the docks.

All but 27 were either killed or captured, 22 escaped back to Britain in motor Torpedo Boats and five escaped to the Spanish border. Five Victoria Crosses were awarded to men involved, in what has become known as the greatest raid of all.

This year saw a special service of Remembrance in Falmouth to commemorate the 82nd anniversary of the St Nazaire Raid during WWII took place on Sunday - with a big surprise for one very special person.

Bugler Bill Bishop was presented with a Royal British Legion Certificate of Merit 'in recognition of his long, distinguished and loyal service and support to the Royal British Legion and veterans in Cornwall.'