Built in 1900, Watergate Bay Hotel was originally intended to serve as a railway terminus hotel for a proposed Newquay to Padstow branch line, but the railway never came. During the Second World War, it became an RAF Officers Mess and was later converted into married quarters, but fell into disrepair during the 1960s.
John and Mary Ashworth bought the Watergate Bay Hotel in 1967, initially running it as self-catering flats. The Ashworths converted the premises back to a 55 bedroom hotel in 1971, adding an extension to include a living area and restaurant. It was successfully run as a seasonal family hotel for the traditional bucket-and-spade holiday for many years.
Also in the 1970s one of the UK’s first skate parks opened at Watergate Bay. The concrete bowl was popular among skateboarders of the era including Nigel Semmens.
Savour that coffee-by-the-sea moment at Watergate Bay Hotel. Origin coffee, roasted here in Cornwall, is infused with a story of passion and precision that connects each sip back to small coffee farms on the tropical belt. We catch up with Stephen Gray, Head of Coffee, to hear all about it.
Read moreCornwall based filmmaker and photographer Ben Battell talks to us about capturing the perfect sunset. Discover Ben’s professional pointers for capturing shots that go beyond “what you see on everyone else's Instagram feeds”:
Read moreWe caught up with sand artist Sonia Shomalzadeh ahead of her residency at Watergate Bay from 7–10 June 2025, when she’ll be creating life-size wildlife drawings of endangered marine species on the beach.
Read morePadstow Kitchen Garden supplies Watergate Bay Hotel with the freshest seasonal produce, grown sustainably overlooking the Camel Estuary in Padstow. Meet the farmer putting nature first for the best possible taste.
Read moreChris Eden has been busy evolving our food game and reimagining the menus across Zacry's, The Living Space and The Beach Hut. Meet Chris and hear what makes him tick.
Read moreWith imagination, patience and heart, Tammy leads the charge in the Kids’ Zone. We meet Tammy to find out why the Kids' Zone makes up such a big part of family holidays at Watergate Bay.
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