LNOF Guide to Newquay
Bondai Beach meets Bournemouth with a few backpackers thrown in.
With a personal, communal feel, marvellous beaches, a laid-back, distinctly non-pretentious set of inhabitants, a sunny climate and the occasional bronzed young surfer - it’s not hard to see why Newquay hen weekends make so many shortlists. This is like one big village, where friendly sporty types mingle with chilled-out tourists in hassle-free bars and simple cafes, the popularity of the nightlife perhaps partly down to the scarcity of strip clubs and soulless chain pubs that often make other city centres blend into one.
Though the town is famous for its surfing culture, that doesn’t mean you’ll be surrounded by talk of waves, hair and the merits of after sun on your hen weekend. There are loads of great cafes, copious amounts of gift shops and enough intriguing little stores down pleasant side streets to give the town an unforgettable identity of its own. With a passion for live music, dancing and dining out – there are several stylish yet value-for-money restaurants - Newquay’s choices in what to do and where to do it, are as broad as the shoulders of those bronzed young surfers.
I love Newquay because it feels like you're abroad, even though you're still in the UK. The surfing activities are top notch, couldn't recommend them more.
Claire HallGraphic Designer
You can expect an especially friendly atmosphere on your Newquay hen weekend. Most of the visitors are predominantly "outdoor" people, who like nothing better than putting the seal on an energetic day of sport and activity with a few hours of serious socialising in the bars and clubs that overlook the sea. Talking, surfing, drinking and partying are in the top five passions of those spending their weekends in the south coast’s own Hawaii - so you can look forward to a candle smoking away at both ends for the duration of your stay.
People are too chilled-out in Newquay to go about causing trouble or ripping you off, so the pace – when you aren’t flying around on the water or bumping into each other on an off-terrain racecourse somewhere – is agreeably laid back during daylight hours. From the moment you sit down to eat in the early evening, things change slightly. The vibe is to stay with it and leave any recuperating or charging of batteries until you’ve long since waved goodbye to the coast, and emptied the sand from your shoes. Go for it and you’ll fit right in. Hold back on yourself and you’ll miss the tide.