News this week that Una St Ives was closing its accommodation and restaurant with immediate effect and putting its parent company into administration sent shockwaves through the Cornish tourism and hospitality industry.

It has been confirmed that all future accommodation bookings have been cancelled, although the administration does not affect any privately owned lodges.

Staff from the joint administrators appointed by Kingfisher Una Resort Limited are attempting to contact everyone with bookings to confirm it will no longer be going ahead.

The leisure facility on the site, including the pools, gym and spa, is owned by Carbis Club Limited, which it is understood intends to continue to trade on a limited basis.

However, the remaining freehold land and property at Una St Ives owned by the company - aside from completed lodges, villas and plots that are privately owned – will be put up for sale.

It is an untimely end for the resort that only this spring was unveiling its latest villas in a multi-million investment project.

Once just a caravan site, it had been transformed over the last decade by Kingfisher Resorts into an award-winning luxury resort that even hosted world leaders for the G7 Summit in Carbis Bay 2021.

On the back of a post-pandemic surge in staycations, Una St Ives saw strong trading figures and optimism was high.

In February 2022 resort director James Hemming revealed a major £41 million investment to expand, saying it would create 300 local jobs – with the directors having already invested more than £8 million in its development works over the previous nine years.

This included introducing 29 new lodges and an Atrium housing its award-winning Una Kitchen.

Una Kitchen in 2022The Mediterranean-style restaurant, completed with wood burning pizza oven, was opened in 2018 after a £200,000 investment and regularly won gold at the Taste of the West Retail & Hospitality Awards, also being named Restaurant of the Year in the Cornwall Tourism Awards 2019/20.

The latest expansion was for the creation of a Lido, complete with a barbecue ‘street-style’ dining area, 93 self-catering villas and a central piazza, with 55 one-bedroom luxury apartments.

The year-round heated Lido duly opened in December 2022 and was instantly popular with both visitors and locals, running alongside the resort’s indoor pool, children’s pool, jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.

The new heated lido at Una St Ives in Cornwall (Image: Una St Ives) Even in May this year, five luxury villas each with a private hot tub were launched, with plans for 22 more by the end of the year.

Fast forward just five months later though and it has all gone wrong.

Earlier this week one of the directors of Una’s parent company, Kingfisher Resorts St Ives Ltd, admitted there were “funding pressures.”

And so it proved, as on Thursday a statement went out to say that Grant Thornton UK LLP had been appointed administrator for the development and accommodation division, Kingfisher Una Resort Ltd, resulting in the immediate closure of several key aspects of the resort.

The statement, shared on the resort's doors, saw Mr Hemming confirming the closure of both the accommodation and the popular restaurant Una Kitchen.

"It is with the upmost regret that the board of directors for Kingfisher Una Resort LTD has today, Thursday, October 24, appointed Grant Thornton as administrator," he said.

 "This action unfortunately results in the closure of several operational elements of the resort, including the letting of accommodation and the opening of Una Kitchen in its present form."

While the accommodation and restaurant are closed, Mr Hemming reassured guests and staff that the leisure club and spa would continue operating as normal, and a café-style offering would be introduced in the bar area.

However, as of Thursday the leisure club was temporarily closed to allow for staffing adjustments and is expected to reopen at 12pm this Monday, October 28.

James Hemming, resort director at Una St Ives, when it launched its £41 million expansion.  Picture: Sally Adams"In the next few days, we will be making plans to ensure that our health and safety obligations are met and staffing is secured in order to maintain safe operation," Mr Hemming added.

The statement ended with gratitude to guests for their patience and understanding during this difficult time. "We appreciate your patience and understanding during this very difficult time," Mr Hemming said.

There is an additional statement on Una St Ives’s website now, stating that Richard Lewis and Alistair Wardell of Grant Thornton UK LLP had been appointed as joint administrators of the company.

It clarifies: “The company’s business ceased on to trade on appointment, including all future guest bookings being cancelled.

“The joint administrators’ staff are attempting to contact all parties which have made reservations to confirm the bookings can no longer proceed. 

“Please note – There are some privately owned lodges where the company was not responsible for bookings. We understand the bookings were made through cottages.com and confirm they are not affected by the administration.

“However, we recommend guests check with cottages.com or the villa owners to confirm their stays are going ahead.”

The reception area at Una St IvesIt went on to say that creditors would receive formal notification from the joint administrators of their appointment, with details of how to claim amounts owed.

Any queries should be put in writing in the first instance to cmusupport@uk.gt.com

The statement adds: “We should note that according to the company’s records the property at Una St Ives, which is comprised of the leisure facility (including the pools, gym, spa and restaurant) is owned by Carbis Club Limited and not the company. We understand the directors of CCL are intending to trade the leisure facilities on a limited basis.

“The remaining freehold land and property at Una St Ives, aside from completed lodges, villas and plots that are privately owned, are owned by the company and will be marketed for sale by the joint administrators’ agents, Lambert Smith Hampton. Please contact RBassett@lsh.co.uk if you are an interested party.

“The affairs, business and property of the company are being managed by the joint administrators who act as agents of the company and without personal liability. Richard Lewis and Alistair Wardell are authorised by the Insolvency Practitioners Association to act as insolvency practitioners.”