Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall | STAYING IN The BEACH LOFTS
Have you ever dreamt of staying at a place where you can watch the surfers riding the waves, sip a drink at sunset from your balcony and be only a short walk to the beach? Well, you’re in for a treat because Watergate Bay Hotel offers some of the best views of Cornwall and all of the above!
Watergate Bay Hotel is a beachfront spa hotel in Cornwall that is guaranteed to serve you adventure, incredible food, spectacular views and of course relaxation. It also has a sister hotel, Another Place Hotel in the Lake District which we have stayed at and is the ultimate escape to the land of fells, lakes and waterfalls.
WHAT IS WATERGATE BAY HOTEL KNOWN FOR?
Located on the beautiful Watergate Bay, this long sweeping beach provides some of the best waves for beginners and the beach is tucked in between cliffs at either end. Watergate Bay Hotel takes full advantage of this prime location by designing the space to draw your eyes out towards the ocean.
The view entices you to seek adventure outside, whether it’s swimming in the waves, surfing or rambling along the beach. After a day of adventure, there’s no better feeling than soaking in a hot tub, eating delicious food and putting your feet up in a beautifully designed space. The vision for the hotel is ‘a ski resort on a beach’, the beach lofts are a recent addition that has direct access to the beach for a sunrise or sunset surf.
WHERE IS WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
Watergate Bay Hotel is located on the North Cornwall coast, between Padstow and Newquay. Only a short distance from Bedruthan Steps, Constantine Beach and Trevose Head Lighthouse which are all worth a visit.
The South West Coast Path passes through Watergate Bay following the coastline and stretches over 630 miles, read about our favourite walks along this stretch of coastline. Read about our favourite walks along the South West Coast Path, a beautiful stretch of coastline.
HOW TO GET TO WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
By car
There are dedicated car parks at Watergate Bay Hotel which allow parking for hotel guests only. Ensure you give your registration details to the hotel to redeem free parking which is allocated as one car per room. Vehicle charging points for electric cars are provided and it’s recommended to contact the hotel before arriving for use.
Travelling by car takes approximately 4 hours 56 minutes from London, 4 hours from Birmingham, 2 hours 50 minutes from Bristol, 1 hour 30 minutes from Exeter and 1 hour 10 minutes from Plymouth.
By train
The closest station is Newquay station, where you can catch trains along the Great Western Railway service. From Newquay station you can catch the bus which takes 30 minutes or alternatively catch a taxi.
By plane
Newquay airport is the nearest airport with flights from London (1 hour 15 minutes), Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Dublin.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
The warmer temperatures in spring and summer are the best times for getting outside as there will be fewer crowds on the beach, especially outside the school holiday periods. In contrast, autumn and winter can be exciting times to visit to watch the powerful storms and huge waves from the comfort of a warm cosy room.
WHAT ARE THE ROOMS LIKE AT WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
There are a number of different rooms at Watergate Bay Hotel including; suites, family suites, double rooms, village apartments and lastly the incredible beach lofts. This guide will be focused on our stay in the beach lofts.
The beach lofts are separate from the main hotel building and have their own private entrance. Once you walk through the main door you’ll be welcomed with spectacular views of Watergate Bay. The steps lead you down to a shower, to the left the steps lead to private access to the beach and ahead leads into the reception and pantry. The pantry has freshly baked goods delivered each morning and cakes in the afternoon. The kitchen also has fresh juice, cake and hot drinks that you can take back into your room.
The beach lofts are designed with a bohemian, sophisticated and luxurious style, with a colour palette echoing the surrounding seascape, painting the room with ocean and sandy tones. There are only 7 beach lofts and we stayed in one of the beach loft doubles which features a Japanese bath overlooking the beach, a hanging chair, a sofa, a table and chairs, a comfy bed, a chest of drawers, a wardrobe, mini bar.
The bathroom has a shower, toilet, sink, and heated towel rail and has Land & Water products which were born in Watergate Bay their products are sustainable and smell divine. The room has a large open-plan living space and is more like a spacious apartment, with sliding floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the room with natural light and of course, epic views.
Each room is dog friendly, with private access to the beach where you can surf in and surf out with a wetsuit drying room, beach locker for all your valuables and a shower to freshen up after your surf.
Other rooms available include; two family suites which allow up to 5 people and two loft suites which have the best views of Watergate Bay out of all the lofts available to stay in. There are also nearby self-catering private village apartments with two bedrooms, decked verandas, kitchenette, with a luxurious and cosy feel.
What time is check-in and check-out for the beach lofts?
Check-in times for your room if it’s one of the beach lofts is 3pm, if you arrive before 3pm you can use the facilities including the main hotel area and swim club. The morning you leave, check-out time is 11am.
How do I book a beach loft room?
For the beach loft rooms, prices start from £545 per night including bed and breakfast for a beach loft double. You can book a room here on the website where you can select your dates and the room you’d like to stay in.
WHAT PLACES ARE THERE TO EAT AT WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
The Beach Hut
In this space, you’ll feel like you’ve walked into an Australian ‘home and away’ inspired beach café with spectacular views out over the bay. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and some of the highlights include; fresh juices, fish and chips and freshly baked cinnamon buns. The menu is inspired by seasonal produce and has many vegetarian and vegan dishes.
Zacry’s Restaurant
Serving breakfast and dinner, Zacry’s restaurant is a large sophisticated space that serves a hot buffet breakfast including their signature waffles, pastries and full English. For the evening dinner menu, they serve a variety of dishes including a three-course menu where the specials include a 21-day aged steak for two with triple-cooked chips, french beans, sweetcorn and a marmite steak sauce - a firm favourite of ours!
The Living Space
A relaxed dining space where you can share dishes or enjoy a cocktail on the ocean-view terrace. A place to chill, lounge and soak in the incredible views of Watergate Bay.
Other restaurants near Watergate Bay Hotel
Emily Scott Food
Set overlooking Watergate Bay, this restaurant serves seasonal, fresh local fish and seafood dishes. For dinner, you’ll discover a six-course set menu whilst watching the waves crash on the horizon.
Street Food
Who doesn’t love pizza?! Opposite the hotel, you’ll find a variety of street food on offer and is located right next to the path to the beach. They serve delicious pizza to fill you up after a day’s surf, hot dogs and Treleavens ice cream which is a must for a day at the beach.
The Hangout
This spot has the views, as it is perched on the cliff above the main hub of Watergate Bay, with a chilled atmosphere and great food. The Hangout serves coffee, smoothie bowls, breakfast muffins, toasties and milkshakes. It’s worth the walk up to get a great view of the beach accompanied by yummy food.
WHAT FACILITIES ARE THERE AT WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
If you stay in one of the beach lofts, a host concierge will be found opposite the pantry to assist you with any services you require such as room service etc, and will only be available during the day.
You will also be given a dedicated parking space close to the entrance of the beach lofts for easy access. The pantry allows you to have breakfast on the beach where you can take freshly made pastries, waffles and fresh juice to enjoy.
Whilst staying at the beach lofts, you’ll still have access to the hotel facilities including an infinity pool, sauna, outdoor hot tub, treatments and Kids’ Zone where they offer babysitting, supervised sessions and beach school for children.
If you fancy trying surfing out for the first time or even to brush up your surf skills, head to Wavehunters at the Extreme Academy where you can paddle the rolling waves that are perfect for beginners. You can also try paddleboard lessons, beach yoga and outdoor fitness classes for other alternative activities.
If you are not a confident swimmer, there are ‘swim and be active’ sessions that run over two days to work on your swimming technique and a chance to learn how to swim in the sea safely.
WHAT IS THERE TO DO NEAR WATERGATE BAY HOTEL?
Newquay
Here you’ll find shops, cafés, beaches and some great surf spots including the world-famous Fistral Beach is the most popular surf beach in Cornwall. There are consistent, rolling waves and Fistral can hold a big swell. Fistral is also a great place for beginners to learn.
Walk along the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path passes through Watergate Bay following the coastline and stretches over 630 miles, read about our favourite walks along this stretch of coastline. Read about our favourite walks along the South West Coast Path, a beautiful stretch of coastline.
Eden Project
A spectacular conservation project, home to a number of different species of plants of plants from around the world in some impressive biomes set to a tropical and Mediterranean climate. A zip line crosses across the project for an added adrenaline rush! Read about our experience visiting this must-visit place in Cornwall.
Lost Gardens of Heligan
It is no surprise that The Lost Gardens of Heligan won Best UK Leisure and Heritage Attraction for 3 years in a row. Located in St Austell, these unique gardens will have plenty to keep you entertained with over 200 acres of gardens with many gems including a suspension bridge across the jungle, intricate Victorian glass houses and a kitchen garden which produces seasonal fruit and veg.
Bedruthan Steps
England's answer to Australia's famous 12 Apostles. Bedruthan Steps is an absolute must-visit when in Cornwall. Read our guide to visiting Bedruthan Steps, where you’ll find them only a short drive north of the Watergate Bay Hotel the views from above are spectacular with the numbered stacks emerging from the sand beneath.
Looking for more cornwall INSPO?
For some more ideas on what to do in Cornwall, read our top 20 things to do in this stunning county.
