Category: Food and drink

Perranporth – Walk Through

Perranporth is perfect for those seeking to escape the 9-5.

Clear waters, cliff walks and three miles of golden sand, as well as having some of our fantastic dog-friendly properties nearby.

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Nestled among rolling hills that inspired Winston Graham’s swashbuckling Poldark novels, Perranporth is a bustling village with a variety of eateries.

From Droskyn point, you can take a leisurely walk into the village. As you wander down the hillside, you will come across the Perranzabuloe Millennium Sundial, designed by local artist Stuart Thorn.

True to the spirit of the village, the stainless steel gnomon has been set to show Cornish time: 20 minutes ahead of GMT. Stone seating has been incorporated into the structure, which looks onto the beach below.

In the village, there is an array of beach-side shops and cafes along with local amenities.

If you walk a little further from the main street, you’ll find yourself in a charming park with a large duck pond which is home to swans and ducks.

As you walk back towards the beach, you can take advantage of hiring a kayak to take out onto the water, paddle board or surf board.

Feel the sand between your toes and breathe in the fresh salty sea air as you walk along the beach.

The beach is patrolled in season by RNLI lifeguards. It is a safe beach which is popular with families and couples.

It is also a dog friendly beach, which makes for a great morning run or afternoon out with your canine friend.

Whilst on the beach you can stop for a drink or something to eat at the Watering Hole – the UK’s only bar and restaurant on the beach! In the summer enjoy a BBQ on the beach in the evening.

After you have fuelled your body, why not climb the steps located to the right of the restaurant embedded in the cliff face. Venture along the cliff path along to Holywell Bay.

Interested in finding out more about Newquay? Discover what to do in and around Newquay.

A perfect vantage point to watch the sunset over the horizon in the evening.

Want to stay in Perranporth? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Perranporth.

10 Best Restaurants in North Cornwall

From casual wood-fired food hideaways to Michelin-starred seafood restaurants, Cornwall remains a county like no other for food lovers. So here’s our guide to the 10 best restaurants in North Cornwall, all within easy reach of our Beach Retreats properties.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Scott & Babs

Where? Mawgan Porth

Hidden away deep in Mawgan Porth’s Laherne valley is one of our favourite haunts. Situated on a farm with a stream running through the site, you really do feel like you stumbled across something special. They’re rearing their own pigs, sheep, cows, ducks and chickens to cook a small menu that’s tasty, rustic and cooked on open fires, spit roasts and slow-roasted smoker barrels. Guests can get cosy up in a converted stable with a roaring log fire!

www.scottandbabs.com

Nathan Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen

Where? Port Isaac

The two-Michelin starred chef ‘s new Fish Kitchen brings the best of Cornish seafood to a more affordable level. The restaurant, which focuses on small seafood plates, now boasts a Michelin star in its own right. We fancy the cured Monkfish and crispy squid, with prices between £2-10 per dish.

www.outlaws.co.uk/fishkitchen

Fish House Fistral

Where? Fistral Beach

Fish House Fistral is an award-winning seafood restaurant over looking the beach at Watergate Bay. Described by the owner and Head Chef as serving rustic seafood ‘with no one serving food like like this in Newquay’, the focus in on local produce at reasonable prices. Dishes include everything from lobster linguini and fish curry to ribeye steaks and burgers.

thefishhousefistral.com

St Tudy Inn

Where? St Tudy, Nr Bodmin

After many years running the Harbour Restaurant in Port Isaac, award-winning chef Emily Scott opened up the St Tudy Inn in December 2014. The transformed the pub has a modern warm and cosy atmosphere. Enjoy a drink in the old bar, or relax in front of the open fire and enjoy simple, rustic cuisine.

www.sttudyinn.com/

Paul Ainsworth at Number 6

Where? Padstow

It’s not all about Rick Stein anymore in Padstow (although Rick’s restaurants are still very good). Paul Ainsworth has won a Michelin star for his restaurant, which sources seasonal ingredients and serves them in s simple modern style. Accessibility is key, so the atmosphere is relaxed, children are welcome, and hearty portions of unpretentious, uncomplicated food is bound to put a smile on your face.

www.number6inpadstow.co.uk

Gilmore’s Golf

Where? Fistral, Newquay

What was once an average greasey-spoon café and golf course has been turned into a laid-back hangout with a fun miniature-golf course sitting alongside. Gilmore’s brings unfussy, freshly cooked, Mexican inspired food to Cornwall. Burritos, tacos and loaded chips and nachos are all on the menu, which is anything but your usual Old El Passo fayre. Our favourite is the fried fish taco, complete with homemade mini soft tacos – as they should be.

Visit their Facebook page.

Want to stay in Crantock, Newquay near to Fistral and Watergate? Have a look at our properties in Crantock.

Zacry’s

Where? Watergate Bay

Since it threw open its brasserie-style doors at Watergate Bay Hotel in March 2014, Zacry’s has drawn a crowd of passers-by and returning aficionados alike. The food looks to Cornwall for inspiration while drawing on international influences and executive chef Neil Haydock’s passion for contemporary American cuisine. Provenance is important in the seasonal two or three-course menu, showcasing both classic and contemporary dishes. Grilled meat and seafood all feature large.

Visit their website.

The Halsetown Inn

Where? Halsetown near St Ives

Possibly the best Sunday roast in Cornwall, but the Halsetown Inn’s daily menu is just as tasty – and all really good value. The medium sized menu covers a lot of ground, from classic burgers, Asian-inspired dishes, curries, lamb and seafood, in a rustic and homely atmosphere.

www.halsetowninn.co.uk

The Beach Hut

Where? Watergate Bay

One of Cornwall’s best beach-side hangouts, The Beach Hut welcomes surfers, families and even the dog. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, food is unfussy and tasty, the atmosphere laid-back, and all with a view of Watergate Bay’s two-mile stretch of beach out front. Perfect for sunset watching and sundowners.

Visit their website.

Strong Adolfos

Where? A39 just outside Wadebridge

What do you get if you cross a great coffee maker, a surf-board shaper and motorbike customiser? The proprietor of a sub-cultural café on Cornwall’s Atlantic Highway, of course. The interior is industrial but the food and drink is anything but. The kitchen serves freshly cooked breakfast and lunches with influence taken from around the globe. We spotted burgers, lentil dhal and tasty salads on the day that we visited with vegetarian, gluten-free and meat eaters all catered for across the menu.

Visit their website.

Visiting Cornwall in the Autumn or Winter? It’s the perfect time to visit our favourite Sunday Roast locations.

Book your self-catering holiday in Cornwall Beach Retreats today.

Eating out in Widemouth Bay | Places to Eat

Widemouth Bay may feel like a wild and remote beach retreat, and in many ways it is. But from beach cafes to Italian-inspired fare, it packs in plenty of places to dine. Read our ultimate guide to eating out in Widemouth Bay.

Visiting Cornwall for a workcation? Have a look at our holiday lets perfect for extended stays and working.

Black Rock Café

Named after the iconic rock jutting out of the sea at the south end of Widemouth, Black Rock Café serves up a brilliant breakfast and waffles, as well as lunches and cream teas. The three generation Café is also licensed with outdoor seating and is home to Rocky the parrot.

Trelawny Tearoom and surf hire

A delicious selection of homemade cakes – sometimes slightly wonky, exactly how they should be. They also serve scrummy breakfast baps, perfect after an early morning surf, and a good old cream teas with Rodda’s Clotted Cream.

www.trelawnytearoom.com

Widemouth Bay Café

A long firm favourite located in the middle-to-northern-end of the beach. This is your spot for loaded hot chocolates, hot pasties and a good cup of coffee. Dogs are welcome.

The Beach House

Restaurant, bar and takeaway, The Beach House lies at the northern end of Widemouth with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating overlooking the Bay. There’s everything from Sri Lankan spider crab curry to Asian pork belly and Sunday roasts, and when the weather’s good, cocktail bar in the dunes.

www.beachhousewidemouth.co.uk

Widemouth Manor

On the hairpin bend before you descend into Widemouth from the Atlantic Highway is Widemouth Manor. The menu offers a mix of classics from fish and chips and mussels to ever changing specials and tempting tapas. Open for lunch and dinner.

www.widemouthmanor.co.uk

The Bay View

A popular pub-come-restaurant serving up big burgers, steaks, salads and more. Kids will love the outdoor play area.

www.bayviewinn.co.uk

Elements

Situated high on the clifftop between Bude and Widemouth, Elements serves up an Italian inspired menu of stone-baked pizzas, pasta, steak and salads with a contemporary interior and stunning views. Save room for their gelato menu afterwards.

www.elements-life.co.uk

The Weir Restaurant and Bistro

Technically not in Widemouth but only a 5 minute drive away in Marhamchurch along the Altantic Highway, we just had to include The Weir – a coffee house, bistro and wildlife centre. Overlooking the lake and along the Bude Cycle Route, The weir combines fresh food and cakes with plenty for kids to see, do and explore.

www.weir-restaurant-bude.co.uk

Take a look at our properties in Widemouth Bay and book your Beach Retreat today. Keep an eye out for deals on our special offers page, or browse our other beach locations to explore further.

Looking at other locations in Cornwall? Explore the enchanting village of Boscastle in North Cornwall with Beach Retreats.

Looking for other fantastic restaurants in Cornwall? Check out some of our favourite restaurants with stunning sea views.

Cornish ice cream

Jelberts in Newlyn might be the most unassuming ice cream shop in the world, but it certainly takes the scoop.

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Although the queue snaking out of the door might give the game away, drive along the promenade from Penzance into the small fishing village of Newlyn and you could easily pass an unremarkable shop to your right-hand side.

Jelberts is one of the oldest ice cream makers in the county, with only one shop here in Newlyn. Yes, it’s a bold claim, but this plain old shop makes the best ice cream in the world.

According to my friend’s old Cornish granny, Jelberts started out as a sweet extension of a local dairy farmer who used to cart the drums of homemade ice cream down the road by pram each day. His grandson Jimmy still runs the shop today.

The recipe is a closely guarded secret but we’re certain it’s the simplicity of milk, cream, and not much else, that makes the deliciously dense, creamy vanilla flavour.

To this day, Jelberts still only produces enough ice-cream to last through the day. So once it’s gone, it’s gone.

There is only one flavour. And there are only six simple options holding you back from the best ice cream in the world. Small or large? Cone or tub? Clotted cream and flake?

Thinking of visiting in the February half term, check out what activities we recommend trying in February.

Well I never…

Glance around the shop when you are standing in the queue and you won’t fail to notice a rower’s ore mounted to the wall.

Look closer and you’ll see it’s the one used by Olympic gold medal winners Helen Glover and Heather Stanning who stormed to victory in the Women’s Pair in the London 2012 Olympic Games. It’s Helen’s Dad Jimmy who runs the family-owned business. Thus proving that ice cream leads to great things.

Jelberts is a 20 minute drive from our properties in Sennen Cove.

Want to explore more of Cornwall? Have a look at our Mousehole holiday properties.

Beach Retreats hosts Food Tube

As an ambassador for Jamie Oliver’s Food Foundation charity, Danny McCubbin is spreading the love of cooking and eating good food. We’ve picked some of our favourite video recipes from him, one of which was recently filmed in our Watergate Bay ‘Village’ properties.

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

 

Danny McCubbin has worked for Jamie Oliver for more than 10 years – four of them as his personal assistant. Unsurprisingly, it seems that cheeky Aussie Danny has absorbed Jamie’s enthusiasm and passion for food.

It’s something that’s become extremely important in Danny’s new role as an ambassador for Jamie’s Food Foundation. The charity is committed to shaping the health and wellbeing of current and future generations, by providing better access to food education for everyone.

As part of his work, Danny regularly travels the worlds and uploads video recipes of him cooking with various high-profile foodies to Jamie’s Food Tube channel – one of the largest food channels on You Tube.

As part of the FoodTube family, his travels recently took him to Watergate Bay and Fifteen Cornwall’s Spring Fayre. In between checking out the stalls and food demonstrations, he managed to squeeze in a new recipe filming at his home for the night, Buryan– one of our spectacular properties overlooking the beach.

Alternatively, want someone to cook for you? Check out our top 5 restaurants in Watergate Bay.

Easy Mint Sauce

This is such a simple recipe, perfect for Sunday roasts – especially some gorgeous lamb for Easter Sunday. Spot the lovely kitchen backdrop?

 

Kale salad with anchovy and lemon dressing

Danny teams up with organic fruit and veg box supplier Abel & Cole for this simple, tasty and healthy salad.

 

Soda Bread

One of Danny’s all-time favourite Ministry of Food recipes. If he can bake it, anyone can!

Hoxton Cheese Steak

Exactly what you think it is. Danny joins Fifteen Graduate Joe Gray to make one of Joe’s steak sandwich which he sells at Hoxton Market.

Discover unbeatable savings and unforgettable experiences with Beach Retreats’ exclusive special offers.

Search your holiday dates for available properties and check out our latest offers.

The Fish House, Fistral

It’s no secret that Fistral is one of the north coast’s finest surf beaches. But it’s fast becoming a real foodie destination too with the opening of Paul Harwood’s Fish House restaurant last year.

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Newquay’s Fistral beach is back on the map for all of the right reasons. Since The Stable brought its quirky pizza offering to the shores in April last year, locals and holiday-makers alike have been asked to rethink their perceptions of the chip-butty-esqe fayre available from the beach.
Next on the menu is Paul Harwood’s Fish House, which opened in June last year overlooking the sea. It’s a solo mission from a chef – and keen surfer – well known for his 15 years at Rick Stein’s restaurants in Padstow and Falmouth.

The Fish House, Fistral

The restaurant combines Paul’s two passions – the sea and seafood. Described by himself as serving rustic seafood ‘with no one serving food like like this in Newquay’, the focus in on local produce at reasonable prices. Dishes include everything from lobster linguini and fish curry to ribeye steaks and burgers.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Paul was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time after reopening the restaurant for a short winter break – snowboarding and surfing of course.

As a local, what is about Cornwall that you cant get enough of?
Paul: I love Cornwall so much because of the coastline and having the best seafood on the planet right on our doorstep.

Where is your favourite Beach Retreat?
Paul: Pentire Head, just up the road from South Fistral, is a favourite for Fern Pit , Crantock Beach and the Gannel Estuary. Catching the small ferry across the river is magical, and taking a packed lunch for a day on the beach is unbeatable.

What ingredients would you take to a dessert island, and why?
Paul: Three – olive oil, salt, and a fishing rod. Just imagine the barbecues…

Thanks Paul and bon appétit!

www.thefishhouse-fistral.com

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Discover Egret View at Fistral, our staff pick of the month, and experience the perfect blend of comfort and stunning coastal views.

Angels in the Kitchen | Winter offer

Angels in the Kitchen are exactly what they say on the tin. And now they’re even more angelic, offering Beach Retreats’ guests a very special offer.

We know our guests. And we know that after driving to go on holiday with a car stuffed full kids, the last thing you want to do is cook a family meal. It’s a holiday after all.

Angels in the Kitchen are Kirsten and Sarah – a unique Cornish catering company whose ethos is ‘simplicity’. They offer healthy and wholesome alternative to convenience food, sourcing fresh and local ingredients to create high quality pre-prepared meals.

They also provide a bespoke private-chef service – perfect for relaxing in your own holiday home while enjoying a restaurant experience. The Angels have put together their own set menu but are equally as happy working with you to create something special, whatever the occasion may be. Or perhaps you just want to get the kids to bed early and treat yourself? Canapes, finger food, tapas, birthday cakes, BBQs buffets and sit down meals. The best bit – no dirty dishes.

Check out our locations and retreats across West Cornwall.

Sample tapas menu

Includes marinated olives, crudites, homemade houmous, balsamic dip and fresh bread.

Then a choice of three from meat and fish dishes, including:

    • Mussels with garlic and herb crust
    • Pork meatballs in almond sauce
    • Chorizo in red wine

Then a choice of three vegetable dishes:

    • Roast pepper salad with olive and caper dressing
    • Patatas bravas
    • Courgette fritters with fiery tomato salsa

Testimonial

“We hired ‘Angels in the Kitchen’ at short notice to provide something special for a small group of our son’s friends celebrating his 18th birthday weekend. They didn’t disappoint. The two girls [Angels] came and delivered the tastiest meal that we could have hoped for – a Thai banquet, and the boys ate the lot. The Angels were engaging, fun, and knowledgeable about the design and delivery of the service, and added to the atmosphere. They left after the meal and you’d never know they’d been.”
S. Parker-Arnold, Bristol

Special winter offer

Angels are offering Beach Retreats’ guests a very special offer – 10% off any frozen ready meals over the May half from Friday 22 – Sunday 31 May.

Discover unbeatable savings and unforgettable experiences with Beach Retreats’ exclusive special offers.

Visit www.angelsinthekitchen.co.uk for more information.

Indulge in the flavours of spring with fresh recipes, perfect for the season’s vibrant palette.

Book your holiday with Beach Retreats today.

Beach Retreats visited the unassuming shop on Cornwall’s north-coast to find out more and sample its famous saffron heavy cake as seen on TV.

The secret is out about this unassuming bakery. We visited one of its flagship shops on Cornwall’s north coast to find out more, and to sample some of its famous saffron-heavy cake as featured on TV, of course.

Take a stroll into Portreath village centre and you’d be forgiven for walking straight past Portreath Bakery. But you’d be missing a treat if you did.

Established by Marion Symonds in 1988, the family-owned business has gone strength to strength, now offering much more than the humble – although fantastic – Cornish pasty.

The bakery sources all of its ingredients locally, adding eggs, meat and vegetables, who have been a supplier for more than 20 years.

Over the years the bakery has featured on various television programmes alongside Hugh Scully and ‘Two Fat Ladies’ and has also been personally recommended by Rick Stein’s book ‘Food Heroes’ and Carolyn Martin’s book ‘Our Daily Bread’.

Their famous saffron heavy featured on a recent television programme, Britain’s Best Bakery, where the judges remarked on how moist and fruity it was.

Cornish pastry facts

    • Heavy cake was originally taken to sea as sustenance for sailors, including Marion’s uncle Gordon Greenslade who is now in his 101st year and still living in Portreath
    • Pasties were originally invented by housewives for their husbands to take down the mine and typically had a savoury and sweet end
    • Miners would hold the pasty by the crimp throw this away at the end to avoid eating the arsenic that was on their hands
    • Housewives marked their husband’s initials on the left-hand side of the pastry to avoid any confusion at lunchtime
    • Miners often saved this corner of their pasty for a ‘knocker’ or mischievous elves who were believed to cause bad luck

Portreath Bakery is 30-minute drive down the coast from Newquay. Visit www.portreathbakery.co.uk for more information.

Elevate your beach BBQ game with expert tips and tricks on perfecting a beach BBQ with our guide!

Fancy staying in Portreath? Check out our Portreath holiday retreats.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

Choose Cornish this Christmas – #ChooseCornish

Looking for a Cornish foodie present or local ingredients to make your Christmas Day lunch extra special? It’s easy… choose Cornish on holiday this Christmas and get involved online #ChooseCornish.

From coal and logs for a roaring fire, to mince pies and mistletoe, fine wine and fantastic food – Cornish producers have everything you need for a truly local Christmas feast. Here’s our pick of local festive treats available through Cornish Food Market and Food 4 my Holiday, which many of our guests order from and have waiting for them on their arrival.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a log burner? Check out our cottages with a log burner for a cosy getaway.

Cornish Cheese

Cornwall has some top notch cheeses. Lynher Dairy, just outside Truro make a great Yarg – a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese wrapped in nettle leaves. Helford White from Treveador Dairy, based on a French Reblochon, won gold at the British Cheese Awards 2011. Our pick, Cornish Blue from Knowle Farm just outside Liskeard – a soft, creamy and delightful cheese perfect for a festive fig salad.

Cornish Christmas trees

Grown locally, Noble Christmas Trees are thought to be the best variety for holding onto their needles and are available for delivery from Cornish Food Market.

Cornish Christmas Day lunch

Traditional White Turkey hand reared by Richard Banbury and his family just outside Padstow, or how about a change with roast pork, ham or bacon from Robinson’s Family Butchers in Bodmin? Every plate can be catered for.

Experience the magic of the season with festive nights at Watergate Bay.

Cornish Orchards’ Wassail Mulled Cider

Cornish Orchards products are available throughout the county including Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall Restaurant and Rick Stein’s Seafood restaurant. Wassail is a sumptuous and aromatic brew of cider and apple juice, infused with fresh oranges and hand-blended spices. Serve warm as a simple and easy option for festive occasions.

Cornish Smoked Sea Salt

The chance discovery in 2004 of an Iron Age salt works, tucked away in a remote cove on the south coast of Cornwall, planted the idea for The Cornish Sea Salt Company. Fast forward to today, and Cornish Sea Salt is going strength to strength. We love their range of flavoured salts – the Smoked Sea Salt tastes especially great on buttered bread or pork crackling.

If you’re looking for quality Cornish produce that can be delivered to your door of your holiday accommodation – or even the actual kitchen or fridge – we recommend using The Cornish Food Market and Food 4 my Holiday.

Explore our locations and retreats across North Cornwall.

Seven nights, seven restaurants

Mawgan Porth is a beautiful coastal town which packs a punch. There is so much going on in Mawgan Porth that you’ll want to extend your holiday to fit it all in. Over the next few weeks we are going to give you some local, insider knowledge about Mawgan Porth, starting with seven nights, seven restaurants.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Mawgan Porth

Night one: The Blue Fish Bar
At the heart of Mawgan Porth lies The Blue Fish Bar serving up traditional fish n’ chips. From cod to scampi to haddock, all the fish is cooked to order to ensure the freshest meal. Whether you want to eat in or take away The Blue Fish Bar is a perfect place to head for your first nights stay.

Night two: The Park Café
Dine indoors or alfresco on the sun-deck at The Park Café, Mawgan Porth. Their artisan chef creates a variety of fantastic dishes using fresh, local ingredients. But, if there is a dish you fancy that isn’t featured on the menu The Park’s chefs can make them to order, so long as you give them some notice. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday – Sunday; it’s good wholesome food for all the family.

Night three: Jon’s Bistro at Bre-Pen Farm
Having worked in top London restaurants such as the Hilton Metropole and Claridges and more recently at Fifteen Cornwall you can be sure of delicious, innovative dishes. Jon’s Bistro cooks rustic cuisine inspired by the local produce Cornwall has to offer and invites guests to bring their own wine with no extra corkage charge. What more could you ask for?

Night four: The Merrymoor
Great pub food in a spectacular location; this is what The Merrymoor has to offer. Their menu has something for everyone, from Cornish crab sandwiches, freshly made pizzas to their famous steak and ale pie.

Night five: The Scarlet Hotel
The Scarlet Hotel is an adult only establishment overlooking Mawgan Porth Beach. Their restaurant has earned a magnificent reputation across the country. The menu is simple, yet bursting with flavour and changes daily to capture the freshest ingredients soured locally. Their dinner service offers a touch of glamour ensuring a memorable evening for all.

Night six: Wild Café, Bedruthan Steps Hotel
The Wild Café is colourful and funky and one of the most relaxed places to eat in Cornwall. A mixture of colourful tapas and hearty favourite dishes appear in the menu, inspired by food heroes such as Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

Night seven: Blue Bay restaurant
Blue Bay, available for booking now, is a large self-catering property with a twist. Blue Bay offers beautiful views and a catered kitchen as an additional extra. Whilst you stay at here James and Pippa will create any dish you may desire or you can order off their daily changing menu. Stay with up to 20 of your friends and family and enjoy what we like to call catered self-catering.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Discover more of the best seafood restaurants in Cornwall, where coastal flavours and culinary excellence combine to offer unforgettable dining experiences.