Newly launched, The Elysium Collection is a family of new British hotels, spas and health clubs, providing informal luxury wellness staycations in some of the most beautiful locations in the UK. Rooted in heritage buildings and shaped by their surroundings, the collection is designed to offer a more accessible expression of luxury, with beautifully restored places to switch off, settle in and spend time well.
The collection will debut with openings across Cornwall, Surrey and the Lake District from autumn 2026 and into 2027. The first, 56-bedroom Elysium St Mawes, will open this autumn following the transformation of the historic Ship and Castle Hotel on Cornwall’s harbourfront, led in collaboration with 3DReid, the studio behind Gleneagles.
Each hotel within the collection is shaped to feel relaxed, restorative and a home from home, with interiors that balance character and comfort. Drawing on The Elysium Collection’s philosophy of informal luxury, the experience is designed to feel thoughtful rather than formal, with service that is attentive, warm and instinctive, built around the small details that make a stay feel effortless.
Guests can expect intuitive touches such as seamless arrivals, rooms prepared for the time of day, locally tailored guides with the best walks, swims and sunset spots, and seasonal details that reflect each destination, from muddy boots cleaned overnight to warming comforts after a day outdoors. The aim is to help guests switch off quickly, settle in naturally and feel immersed in their surroundings from the moment they arrive.
Dining across the collection is headed up by Executive Chef Stephane Delourme, formerly Head Chef at Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant for over two decades and later Group Chef for the wider restaurant group.
Menus will celebrate the best of what’s grown, reared and sourced nearby, with dishes shaped by the season, surrounding landscape and community. Dining will be relaxed, generous and rooted in each hotel’s surroundings. In Cornwall, this will mean a strong focus on day-boat fish, shellfish and coastal ingredients, alongside produce from nearby farms and growers.
Across the wider collection, Delourme will work closely with trusted local suppliers to create menus that feel connected to place, simple in spirit and ingredient-led, with an emphasis on flavour, provenance and the pleasure of eating well after a day outdoors.
Wellness sits at the heart of The Elysium Collection experience, with each hotel designed to offer space to slow down, recharge and reset. Each hotel will offer a considered spa and wellbeing experience tailored to its location.
Elysium St Mawes will launch with TEMPLESPA as its spa partner, offering treatments designed to restore, relax and reset. A second spa partner will be appointed for selected future properties, creating a collection-wide wellness offer that feels distinctive by destination while remaining rooted in restoration, comfort and calm. The experience is designed to leave guests feeling calmer, restored and grounded.
CEO James Houlston, an experienced hotelier, who was responsible for transforming The Swan Hotel in the Lake District, and St Michaels Resort in Falmouth into two of the leading staycation resorts in the UK, comments: “When developing The Elysium Collection, we wanted to reflect how people travel today. Guests are more time-conscious than ever, and they’re seeking value not just for their money, but for their time. That became our guiding principle, to deeply understand our guests, ensuring that from the moment they arrive, everything has been thoughtfully curated, allowing them to immediately switch off, settle in, and feel they are exactly where they want to be.”
Many of the hotels within the collection are historic properties, undergoing thoughtful restorations to reflect the heritage and character of their surroundings. Working with leading architects and designers 3DReid, each space is shaped by its location, from materials and interiors to the overall atmosphere.
Design details will draw on a carefully curated mix of British makers, natural materials and locally inspired finishes, with each property developed to feel individual rather than formulaic. Across the collection, interiors will combine restored architectural features with layered textiles, considered lighting, characterful bathrooms and bespoke pieces chosen to reflect the setting of each hotel.
Specific hotel names, locations, facilities, design partners, makers and suppliers will be announced as each property approaches launch.
Find out more about Elysium St Mawes here.
