Merchants Manor Hotel has upgraded its reception area, ditching the desk for what they say is Cornwall's first "champagne arrivals lounge."

Instead of checking in in the traditional manner, guests will now be greeted with a glass of bubbly and nibbles while they relax in the lobby and are pampered by the host team. 

The hotel's entire operation has also shifted onto an electronic system, becoming paperless in a bid to reduce its environmental footprint.  

Co-owner Sioned Parry-Rudlin said: “It’s been great to see people’s reactions. Some guests arrive a bit sceptical but after a few minutes sipping on champagne or a glass of manor made pink lemonade accompanied by a little surprise from the chef they soon realise, why would you want to talk to someone sat behind a great big desk anyway?

“There are a handful of hotels claiming to offer a ‘reception free’ check in experience, but very few have truly followed it through to this level. We have spent months refining the processes behind the scenes to create something unique and truly customer centred and even fewer have ensured food and drink is part of that experience.”

Co-owner Nick Rudlin said: “We have now gone paperless, we estimate this has remove about 30,000 sheets of paper and all the associated print cost from the business and helped us further in our key goal of reducing our environmental footprint a little more each day”.