Newquay’s admittedly legitimate reputation precedes it – boisterous, bustling and brash - but like Ibiza, its Balearic counterpart, it’s not all hyperactive hedonism and throbbing nightlife.
Famous for its beaches – eleven of them, no less – Newquay, in Cornwall, has long been considered one of the premier UK beach resorts. Indeed last summer, in June 2010, it was voted one of the nation’s favourite seaside towns by the influential Which? Holiday survey.
Which? Holiday quizzed over 4000 people who displayed their affection for Newquay by ranking it sixth in the list of favourite UK beach resorts, leaving over 150 towns trailing in its wake.
Summer Fun
If Newquay goes to sleep in the winter, then it positively screams into life in the summer. Looking down from the cliffs onto a clutch of sandy beaches, the town is packed with bars, clubs and surf shacks. Every summer, swarms of hedonistic youngsters descend on the town determined to have the time of their lives - and they probably nearly always do.
It’s also well established as the unofficial capital of surfing of the UK – the place to be for would be bronzed beach boys and girls. At the centre of Newquay’s status as ‘surf city’ is Fistral Beach, the UK’s leading surf beach, home to numerous international competitions and the base for several surf clubs.
Fistral Beach is overlooked by the famous Headland Hotel, the setting for the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Just a stone’s throw from the sand and boasting stunning coastal views, the Headland Hotel is the natural choice for anyone planning to frequent Fistral Beach, be it equipped with surfboards or simply deckchairs, buckets and spades.
Family Friendly
Newquay may be home to a near unrivalled nightlife, but it also offers plenty for the family. In fact readers of Coast magazine recently voted Newquay the nation’s ‘best family holiday destination’. Attractions such as Newquay Zoo, Newquay Waterworld – a highly-commended waterpark - and DairyLand Farm World provide hours of entertainment for the kids.
While Newquay can be justifiably proud of its relentless magnetism for the nation’s libertines, it isn’t without its more sedate hidden gems. Just 15 minutes or so outside Newquay town centre is the beautifully serene Watergate Bay, another surfing haven but altogether more refined.
In 2006 Jamie Oliver saw fit to open another of his popular and innovative restaurants here. As well as wonderful food, Fifteen Cornwall offers incredible views over and across the two mile long sandy expanse below, where surfers, sand artists and kite-flyers revel in Watergate Bay’s wide open, blustery beauty.
Places To Stay
Newquay’s normally modest population of around 20,000 swells to around five times that figure in the summer, due in no small part to the town’s vast array of holiday accommodation. A large selection of Newquay hotels sit alongside B&Bs, holiday cottages and family-friendly campsites, ensuring something for everyone.
Beachside Holiday Cottage is a delightful cottage adjacent to Porth beach. Situated just 50 yards from the sand, Beachside sleeps six in three bedrooms, and with cots and high chairs provided, it represents ideal accommodation for the family.
Right in the thick of the action is Surfside Guest House, a dog friendly, four star B&B overlooking Newquay Bay. With 10 en-suite rooms, free wi-fi and even free use of a Nintendo Wii, Surfside Guest House is a fun-packed place to stay.
Bedruthan Steps Hotel is a four star, family-owned hotel by the sea, perfect for small families or couples, and Cornwall’s Hotel of the Year for 2010. Boasting majestic views over the Atlantic, the hotel is awash with leisure facilities such as tennis courts, gym, swimming pools, snooker rooms and much more.
Whether you’re headed to Newquay for a fast living boozy holiday, an easy-going escape or a bit of both, you’re certain to find what you’re looking for. Balmy and laid back, or barmy and lively – the choice is yours.
Sean Cummins
February 2011
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