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The history of Watergate Bay

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.

"Far from the madding crowd"

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.

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True spirit: Daisy Hillier and Chloe Gillatt

From refreshing flavours to the power of love language, to doing pockets of good where it counts, Daisy Hillier and Chloe Gillatt knew the sort of spirits they wanted to make when they started the now award-winning Cornish craft distillers Loveday Distilling. And the sort of company they wanted to run.

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International Women's Day

We meet a handful of Watergate women to celebrate International Women's Day

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Meet: Florist Emily Talling

Each week, Emily Talling fills The Living Space with colour, scent and spirit with her homegrown flowers. We catch up with her to talk all things seasonal.

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Swim break experience at Watergate Bay

Lorraine Candy shares her experience of the Swim Break with Salim Ahmed at Watergate Bay – two days of expert coaching, sea swims and renewed confidence in the water.

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Humpback whales in Cornwall

We spoke to Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Conservation Officer, Rebecca Allen, to find out what's drawing these gentle giants to our shores, and how we can help protect them.

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The Watergate Bay feeling

Guest Ellinor Smestad captures how Watergate Bay feels for her in this captivating new film.

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