History Of Watergate Bay Newspaper Article

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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Artist in residence: sand art with Sonia Shomalzadeh

During her recent artist’s residency at Watergate Bay, we captured sand artist, Sonia at work from above, using the beach as a giant natural canvas.

Supplier stories: Origin Coffee

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.