Do you like children and surfing? Then you will have fun at the family hotel Esplanade de Newquay, says the inspector
- Inspector pays £ 255 for Saturday night dinner, bed and breakfast
- He dines at the hotel’s Cove restaurant, where he finds the prices “reasonable”
- Remember, the inspector pays his way … and says it like he does
Surfers are plentiful on a gloomy Sunday morning. The cloud is so low that it’s hard to distinguish between sea and sky – but the swell is impressive and clearly inviting for those who love nothing more than catching a wave.
“My husband is out there somewhere,” our tanned, bubbly waitress said over breakfast. She would fit in well with Malibu. But Newquay is far more interesting than this rich Californian honeypot – and right now North Cornwall is on a roll, its reputation as a vacation destination growing all year round. This explains why, at the end of November, all rooms are taken at L’Esplanade, overlooking the famous Fistral beach.
But don’t come here as a couple looking for a quiet romantic getaway. The place is full of kids having fun like crazy. There’s even a soft playground next to the open-plan bar and restaurant, as well as a foosball table – and there’s also a cinema and indoor pool.
One of the rooms at the Esplanade hotel in Newquay. The inspector discovers that there is a “surf theme” in his room
The hotel overlooks the famous Fistral Beach (pictured) and guests pay extra for rooms with sea views
You pay extra for rooms like ours with a sea view. We pay £ 255 for Saturday night dinner, bed and breakfast. There’s a surf theme in the bedroom, with a long wooden headboard and artwork showing choppy seas pouring down onto sandy beaches.
There must be a family room above ours, judging by the noise of the little ones jumping from their bunk beds. No complaints from us – the website makes it clear that the focus is on families.
If you’re only looking for adults, the Esplanade’s partner hotel, Fistral Beach, a few hundred yards along the coast, is the answer. But we note with some relief that there is an adults-only bar called Elements, which opens at 7pm. We get there at 7:03 p.m.
In the photo, the hotel’s Cove restaurant, where wines are served in a carafe as well as in a bottle or glass
The exterior of the Esplanade. Inspector says hotel is “inundated with kids having fun like crazy”
In the photo, the port of Newquay, which is becoming a “holiday destination all year round”, according to the inspector
Dinner at Cove Restaurant is kind of a riot as the kids rush around. “Eat some more of your chips and then you can. “. . ‘ a mother said, but before she could finish her sentence, the two little ones she looked after ran away.
We feast on our fried cod and pork belly – and the wines are served in a carafe, in a bottle or by the glass. Prices are reasonable, with burgers starting at £ 17 and pizzas starting at £ 13.
The hotel is home to the Quiksilver Surf School and guests receive a special rate. So if you have kids and also love surfing, you can’t go wrong here. In fact, you will have a bullet.
TRAVEL FACTS
The Esplanade, Esplanade Road, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1PS.
For more information call 01637 873333 or visit esplanadehotelnewquay.co.uk.
Prices for double rooms start from £ 120.
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