The Esplanade Hotel – Newquay

If you ever get the chance to stay at The Esplanade Hotel, grab it with both hands – you certainly won’t be disappointed. It offers everything you need for a relaxing, comfortable and pleasant stay. This clifftop hotel prides itself on supplying “family holidays in Cornwall” and we were lucky enough to experience a one-night stay in August 2019.

First impressions were good, especially as the hotel occupies a prominent position overlooking Newquay’s iconic Fistral Beach.

Limited parking is available within the hotel grounds. If you can’t find a space and consider parking in the road adjacent to the hotel, we’d advise you to be careful because signage is rather ambiguous. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to find a space at the hotel.

On entering The Esplanade, we were greeted by extremely friendly staff (as was the case throughout our stay) and directed to our family room. A very spacious room, it contained a double and two single beds – other family rooms, meanwhile, have bunk-beds. The icing on the cake, though, was the fab sea view.

It was upon entering the bedroom that we first sensed that this was really a family-friendly hotel. Sitting on the beds were buckets and spades for the kids, a Build-my-Bear kit and even kids’ toiletries in the bathroom.

Management and staff at The Esplanade Hotel don’t just play lip service to the “family-friendly” motif, they genuinely welcome children. This didn’t, however, mean that the place was overrun with unruly kids – quite the opposite. There were just subtle signs everywhere that children were most definitely welcome. An example is the chest in the lobby containing myriad buckets and spades to borrow, just in case you’ve left yours at home! There’s also a soft play area, library, board games, games room with pool and table tennis, football pitch and outdoor play area – and no curfew for kids in the swimming pool, either.

If all of that isn’t enough, there’s a full programme of free daily activities, including doughnut decorating, arts & crafts and pizza making followed by a selection of evening entertainment.

The hotel is a very calm and sophisticated place. The lounge area with its fresh ocean décor is particularly attractive and has a view to die for; you could certainly spend an hour or two over a coffee here.

The restaurant, where both breakfast and dinner are served, is blessed with the same sumptuous view. Breakfast was plentiful, as was dinner, although service a little slow during the latter. But it certainly didn’t affect our experience.

The hotel is a good base to explore Cornwall but we’d suggest enjoying what’s right on the doorstep first. It was great just leaving the car and strolling along the beach to Towan Headland, investigate Newquay’s numerous beaches and see what the town centre has to offer; and if you’re tempted by all the beach activity, the hotel also offers discounts for its on-site surf school.

After a full day out and about, it will soon be time to relax back at the hotel and settle the kids into bed. Believe it or not, The Esplanade has even thought of this: milk and cookies plus a bedtime story to read are available in reception each evening – what a nice touch!

More information:

www.esplanadehotelnewquay.co.uk, tel: 01637 817351

www.visitcornwall.com, tel: 01872 261735

 

Reviewed: August 2019