By The Coastal Times | Public Service & Celebrity Impact Desk
TV favourite Anthony McPartlin has quietly purchased an abandoned seaside hotel in Cornwall — and is spending £1.8 million of his own money to transform it into a completely free coastal retreat for overworked NHS staff, offering a level of care and restoration unmatched anywhere else in the UK.
🏨 A Seaside Ruin Reborn
The once-dilapidated three-storey hotel, perched on a windswept clifftop with panoramic views of the Atlantic, had sat vacant for years. But in the hands of McPartlin and his team of architects and wellness experts, it’s being reimagined as a sanctuary of rest, privacy, and personalised support for those who’ve given everything on the medical frontlines.
“It’s not just a gesture — it’s a lifeline,” said one insider close to the project.
“Ant’s seen what NHS staff go through. This is his answer.”
🩺 NHS Stays — Completely Free and Fully Supported
The new retreat, named “The Haven”, will operate year-round, offering short breaks for NHS workers and their families. But this isn’t just free accommodation — it’s a fully immersive recovery experience, including:
-
Spa and therapy treatments tailored to burnout and PTSD
-
24/7 on-site wellness team (psychological and physical support)
-
Family rooms, private balconies, sea-view meditation decks
-
An indoor saltwater pool and organic meal service
-
Quiet zones with no phones, no headlines — just healing
❤️ “Ant Wanted to Give What No One Else Has”
A close source reveals McPartlin was inspired by stories he heard from paramedics, ICU nurses, and junior doctors while filming a charity segment in 2023.
“One ICU nurse told him she hadn’t slept more than four hours in a row for two years. That stayed with him.”
Unable to find any government or institutional equivalent, McPartlin decided to fund it himself — no cameras, no network sponsorships, and no intention of turning it into a TV show.
🧾 Discretion, Not Publicity
Applications will be accepted anonymously through NHS Trusts, ensuring staff privacy. McPartlin’s only public comment has been a quiet one:
“They saved our lives — this is the smallest thing I could do for theirs.”
🌊 Local Reaction in Cornwall
Locals in the village of St Agnes, near the property, say they’re honoured by the project. One shopkeeper said:
“It’s the most respectful kind of celebrity project — no ribbon-cutting, just pure purpose.”
📆 Launch Date
-
The Haven is expected to open its doors by summer 2025
-
It will initially accommodate 12 NHS families per week, with plans for expansion
-
An anonymous donor is said to be matching Ant’s investment to extend the retreat’s reach across the UK in coming years