Hotel owner offers to pay soaring petrol costs for guests to get to Cornwall

The owner of a Cornish hotel has promised to pay for guests’ petrol bills to offset the cost burden.

Hugh Ridgway, co-founder of St Moritz Hotel & Cowshed Spa in Padstow, launched the scheme in response to the rising fuel costs.

This is largely down to the closing of the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 25% of the world’s oil travels through, by Iran in response to the ongoing war with the US and Israel.

As well as an increased living wage, rising business rates, and VAT, which have all contributed to the cost-of-living rise.

Further warnings were given by the head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), who said Europe has ‘maybe six weeks’ of jet fuel left.

The hotel states on its website: ‘Fuel prices have jumped around 15% across the UK, and because getting to Cornwall isn’t exactly a quick hop on the Tube, we’re stepping in.

‘Whatever’s happening in the world – airlines, politics, Trump being Trump – we’re just here to cover your fuel surcharge!’

Holidaymakers will need to book a stay before April 30 and arrive before July 1 to take advantage of the scheme.

The discount that guests can claim will vary depending on how far their home postcode is from the Cornish hotel.

The hotel will then ‘knock off the amount it costs to cover the extra 15% fuel price rise for a return trip’.

The 15% surcharge discount is based on today’s average UK mpg and fuel prices, the hotel says.

Holidaymakers based in the south west and Wales will receive £15 off their bill, the South and Midlands will receive a £20 discount, whilst beachgoers making the trip down from the North and Scotland will receive £30 off.

A list of postcodes is available on the hotel’s website.

Just days ago, however,  Trump once again lashed out at Nato allies after the Strait of Hormuz reopened.

The US president said NATO countries can ‘stay away’ from the Middle East ‘unless they just want to load up their ships with oil’.

Nato countries had refused Trump’s repeated calls to help him force open the shipping route, which Iran effectively shut down following the US and Israeli attack.

The Strait of Hormuz is a small strip of water connecting the Persian Gulf to the world’s oceans.

The vital oil and gas shipping route has been effectively closed since the US-Israeli bombing campaign began at the end of February, forcing up energy and fuel prices around the world.

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