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.
We 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 moreCarrying forward and developing what the Extreme Academy started in 1999, Wavehunters distills the surf lifestyle into lessons for all ages and abilities. We caught up with Wavehunters co-founder and director Andy Cameron.
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