FAQs

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How close are you from the train / bus station?

We are a 5-7 minute walk from the train station and directions are as follows:

Follow the main road into St Ives town centre and keep following it as it turns sharply to the right and goes downhill. When you reach The Hain Line pub (Wetherspoons) on the right take the turning on the left. Walk past the library / Tourist Information centre and then the Co-Op supermarket (on your right) to find Cohort a little way up on your right hand side.

For more details visit Getting to Cohort.

Where can I park my car?

There are 3 car parks within a 5 minute walk of Cohort. There is a public car park 50 yards past Cohort on the right hand side or continue up the road to a mini-roundabout where you turn left and come to Park Avenue car park. The postcode (for SatNavs) for this car park is TR26 1QE. If this one is full you can follow the road (The Stennack which becomes Higher Stennack) out of town and take a left at the next mini roundabout, just by the Co-Op supermarket, follow the signs to Trenwith Leisure Centre Car Park where there are over 1000 spaces. The postcode (for SatNavs) for this car park is TR26 1DD.

For more details visit our Parking page.

Is there a local supermarket to buy food?

We’re lucky to have Osbornes, the cheapest grocery store in St Ives, right around the corner on Tregenna Hill, it is open 6 days a week (closed Sundays). There is also a Co-Op supermarket next door which sells everything you might need during your stay and has a small but useful selection of medicines and toiletries. It’s open every day from 07.00 – 23.00.

On the same road as Cohort, opposite the library, there is a local greengrocers and round the corner you’ll find another Co-Op supermarket and a few bakeries. All this is within a 2 minute walk of Cohort and all are open 7 days a week.

Both Co-Ops have a good selection of gluten free and vegan produce.

Where can I do my laundry?

We have a washing machine at the hostel, it’s coin operated and we sell single-use washing powder bags at reception (£0.50). Once your clothes have been washed there are plenty of places to hang them out to dry in the courtyard (some of these places are undercover if it’s raining), we also have a dry room.

Visit our Facilities page for more details.

Do you take kids?

Yes we do, we take kids from 3 years old however we don’t have kiddie facilities i.e. nappy bins, changing mats, travel cots, etc. so if you are travelling with a young child you must have all your own equipment with you. Please note that if you are travelling with children under 12 you MUST book a private room.

What about families?

We love families and Cohort is a very family-friendly environment. However please note that we can’t guarantee that you won’t be in with other guests unless you book a private room. Do note (as above) that if you are travelling with children under 12 dorm beds in a room are not an option.

Do you allow dogs?

Sorry… we don’t allow dogs of any size, no matter how well-behaved.

Do you take cards?

At Cohort we take all cards except AmEx and Diners. You can use your card / phone (Apple Pay, etc.) for any amount, we don’t have a minimum  / maximum spend restriction.

What if I want to pay by cash?

That’s fine too! There are a few cash points close by Cohort: Do note however that we do not have a cashback service at Cohort and there may be instances where you need a card, i.e. if you want to hire a towel, etc.

What time can I check-in?

You can check in any time from 14.00 to 22.00; if you are arriving after 22.00 please let us know so we can arrange a self check-in for you.

What time is check-out?

10.00am.

Do you have somewhere I can leave my bags?

It might be possible, on occasion and for short periods of time, to leave your bags in an area of our lounge. This is NOT secure bag storage, nor do we take any responsibility for your bags; we also cannot guarantee this is always available. If you would like secure bag storage the St Ives Tourist Information centre has a paid-for left luggage service, this is a few metres from Cohort and they charge £6/bag.

What if I need to cancel a booking?

We operate a free cancellation policy, if you book the standard rate and you cancel before midday the day before arrival you will not be charged; should you cancel after midday the day before arrival, or just not show up you will be charged the full cost of your stay.

If you book a non-refundable rate you are charged the full amount of your stay within 24 hours of booking, this is not refundable under any circumstance, although we are happy to move your dates should a) we have availability and b) you contact us prior to midday the day before arrival.

Please note that if you have booked through a 3rd party, i.e. Booking.com, AirBnB, HostelWorld, etc. then these sites have their own terms and conditions.

You can see details of our T&Cs here and group bookings (more than 6 people) are subject to different terms & conditions.

Do you have WiFi?

Yes, we have superfast, fibre-to-the-premises, WiFi throughout the building; it’s free and you will be given the password on arrival. The network is Cohort_Guest.

Do I need to bring my own linen?

No you don’t and we do not allow guests to use their own linen / sleeping bags due to the health risk: We provide all relevant bed linen.

What about towels?

We don’t provide towels but you can bring your own or hire them from us, the cost is £1.75/towel. These towels are only for use in the hostel and not for the beach.

We don’t ask for a deposit when hiring a towel but you must have card details stored on our system; if you’ve paid cash / have not reserved your room in advance this will involve you giving us card details as security.

Do you have lockers?

We do have lockers in all the dorm rooms (one per bed) but we do not provide padlocks so please bring your own; alternatively you can hire (£2 + £3 cash deposit) or purchase them (£6) from reception when you  arrive.

Lockers are under the bed and measure roughly 30cm high x 80/90cm wide and 90cm depth.

What happens if I lose my key card?

There will be a lost key charge of £2 should you lose your key while staying with us or fail to return your key when you check out. We reserve the right to charge your card once you’ve left if you haven’t returned your key card.