A Cornish country house hotel has gone from having almost no broadband access to enjoying some of the fastest - thanks to new infrastructure put in place by Superfast Cornwall - the pioneering initiative to bring superfast broadband to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

Guests at the Budock Vean on Cornwall's Helford River used to bring their lap-tops and gadgets to one corner of a garden lounge in order to work or play on the internet - now all the hotel's rooms, cottages,  public areas and even the scenic terrace have Superfast WiFi access - completely free of charge.

"We've always prided ourselves on being a lovely secluded place for people to escape the rat-race and relax in peace and tranquillity," says owner Martin Barlow, "but we're also very aware that in these technological days many adults and children want good internet access on holiday as well as at home and work."

"The issue at the Budock Vean and the surrounding countryside is that we're so beautifully secluded that the infrastructure simply wasn't there. Now it is, thanks to Superfast Cornwall, and we and our guests are completely bowled over by the results. Our Superfast access also vastly opens up possibilities for our business clients who come here for away days and conferences."

With its new technological freedom the hotel is looking into the live streaming of their stunning gardens and golf course via webcam and the potential for international conferencing facilities.

Edmund York has been visiting the Budock Vean from his home in Newcastle-Under-Lyme for 17 years and he is thoroughly enjoying the hotel's Superfast revolution. "I never thought that not having easy Broadband access was a problem when we came here on holiday - we love the Budock Vean and we didn't come for the technology," he says. "However, all generations of our family do love our gadgets and having access to Superfast here is quite a revelation."

ENDS

Images: Owner Martin Barlow tests out Superfast Broadband on the Budock Vean's golf course  AND...  Introducing the newest Superhero on the block "Superfast Sam" - flown in by the Superfast Cornwall team to meet the Budock Vean's Martin Barlow.

NOTES TO EDITORS

The multi award winning Budock Vean Hotel is a family run, luxury four star hotel with outstanding leisure facilities include a spectacular indoor swimming pool with log fire, sauna, outdoor hot tub, natural health spa, 9-hole golf course, tennis courts, private foreshore and award winning restaurant specialising in best Cornish produce. The hotel's 65 acres of sub-tropical gardens running down to the Helford River are set amid some of the most beautiful natural coastal and river scenery in the country.
 
For more information visit www.budockvean.co.uk

Contacts:-

Louise Midgley Communications - 01326 316678 / 07831 696093 - louise@midgleycomms.co.uk

Budock Vean Hotel - Melanie Dixon-Phillip - 01326 252114 -management@budockvean.co.uk

Superfast Cornwall is a ground-breaking partnership between the European Union, BT and Cornwall Council to bring superfast broadband to homes and businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, to make it one of the best connected locations in the world. By the time the programme completes in 2014, 95 per cent of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will have access to superfast broadband and the programme aims to bring faster speeds to everyone else through alternative technologies.

For more information visit www.superfastcornwall.org

Contact: 

Jennifer Storemski
- 01209 311104 / 0789 694 1976 - jennifer@superfastcornwall.org