Looking for the perfect place to take a luxurious UK staycation? Then the Cornish seaside town of Newquay, with its breath-taking beaches and rugged stretches of coastline is just the place – and the recently upgraded Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is the perfect hideaway to cosy up in for a weekend of rest and relaxation.
Enjoying a privileged location in Pentire and overlooking Fistral Beach – one of the most famous surfing spots in the UK – the five star hotel has recently upgraded its drinking and dining spaces to give them a fresh new look, making this already dreamy spot into a bona fide luxury lover’s paradise.
Here’s why the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is now Newquay’s – and all of Cornwall’s – leading luxury spa hotel. It’s no small feat, but the recognition is well deserved.
A breath-taking location
Directly overlooking Newquay’s iconic Fistral Beach, the views really don’t get much better and you can take in the surfers catching waves from your window or terrace whilst warm and comfortable inside with a nice hot drink. The expanse of gold sand below comes alive in the summer months with staycationers and international visitors who come in search of sun, sea and sunshine – but in the autumn and winter, it’s all about those surfers and the dog walkers.
If you like to explore the local area and all of its many sights and attractions during your getaways, then the hotel is just a 20-minute walk into town, and there are a plethora of scenic coastal walks to enjoy nearby, too. The Eden Project is around 40-minutes’ drive away, and the upmarket towns of St Ives, Falmouth and Padstow, are all within 45-minutes’ Newquay airport is just 20 minutes’ away, too, with flight links to major cities including London, Manchester and Liverpool.
Money well spent
The hotel has recently undergone a refurbishment of its food and beverage spaces, bringing them bang up to date and creating some stand-out spaces designed for laid-back socialising, drinking, and dining.
The Bay Bar – which received the ‘Best Bar List’ accolade at the prestigious Trencherman’s Awards last year, has been given a stylish makeover. Inspired by its coastal location, the aesthetics now exude a nautical theme, with a colour palette of blue and white and rustic touches like the hanging rope ceiling paying homage to the famous beaches and ocean that the hotel sits before. In the Dune restaurant, things are very much in sync when it comes to the decor, but extra touches like the woven lampshades help to create a welcoming atmosphere and a real sense of home from home. Both venues have been given a boost with the installation of new raised flooring, too, ensuring guests can enjoy the uninterrupted ocean views the hotel is best known for.
The gorgeous coastal inspired interiors
On that note, the interiors are definitely a highlight, and exude a sense of coastal cool throughout the hotel that is in-keeping with the relaxed vibe around Fistral. A palette of soft blue, grey and white hues are complimented with stylish accents made from locally sourced timber to create a space that feels light, bright and thoroughly modern.
The hotel is home to 71 stylish rooms ranging from comfortable standard rooms to best rooms, the latter of which feature stand-out sea-view bathtubs and outdoor balconies, along with yet more sweeping vistas across Fistral beach. In any room type, you can fall asleep to the sound of the waves, lulling you into a peaceful night’s rest with ease.
If you’re looking to go all out when it comes to luxury, then the hotel also offers a sprawling suite, which boasts a spacious lounge area, private balcony with sliding doors and an in-room hot tub, where guests can lay back, relax and enjoy the view, champagne in hand.
Decor-wise, you can expect plenty of rustic wood touches throughout, although the soft furnishings are suitably plush and neutral tones help to create a luxurious less-is-more look and feel.
An indulgent spa experience
When it comes to relaxing staycations and weekend breaks, an on-site spa is invariably the icing on the cake, and during the autumn and winter months, there’s no better time to soak away the stresses and strains of modern life in the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa’s heated vitality pool or hot tub, and allow tension to simply melt away in the sauna or the tranquil relaxation room.
The spa is thoroughly opulent, and whiling away a slow morning or an afternoon here feels like a truly indulgent treat. There are plenty of sumptuous and relaxing treatments to choose from, too, all of which incorporate GAIA’S natural and restorative luxury products to get you back to feeling your best. The Ocean Gaia Ritual, which is based around advanced Balines and Lomi Lomi techniques like exfoliation, mud application and massage, is a highlight, and a must try if you’ve yet to experience it.
There’s also a fully equipped fitness centre on site that is kitted out with all of the latest, state-of-the-art equipment you could possibly need to keep that fitness regime going whilst you’re here.
Mouth-watering food and drink
The hotel’s food and drink offering is certainly of note, with the recently refurbished Dune restaurant a holder of two coveted AA rosettes. Its menu offers up a mouth-watering menu of tasty and seasonally-inspired dishes like the tuna tacos with avocado puree, wasabi and sesame; or the cornflake chicken with satay, peanuts and coriander, with plenty of decadent and creative sweet treats like the pina colada doughnut to round things off with.
The five-course tasting menu, dreamt up by head chef Daniel Kerr, is the perfect choice for a special occasion, and you can opt to enjoy it with a wine flight for an extra £40 per person.
For a quintessentially British experience with a twist, be sure to book in for the hotel’s signature afternoon tea. The ‘Storm in a Teacup’ has won itself a reputation for being the best afternoon tea in Newquay, and you can tuck into multiple tiers of mouth-watering cakes, scones and pastries, along with a selection of finger sandwiches, all whilst watching the waves roll in on the beach below. And of course, there’s plenty of tea to wash it all down with, although if you’re feeling indulgent then you can swap it out for a cocktail or two instead. The Gin and Jam, made with Tiptree raspberry jam, Pinkster gin and lemon juice is the perfect pick, whilst in the summertime, you can pick from a selection of spritzes, which are certain to do the trick.
Impeccable service
The Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa is exclusively for adults, making it a great option for a romantic coastal break and for honeymoons and anniversaries alike. It’s the service here that really makes the experience, with a warm, friendly team of staff ever on hand to ensure that your every need is met and to ensure you’re left wanting for nothing. From special requests for your room to restaurant bookings and excursions in the local area, nothing is too much trouble, and service is always with a genuine smile.
If you’re looking for a lavish place to spend a weekend or an extended break, then the Fistral Beach Hotel and Spa ticks all of the right boxes, and then some. Enjoying a truly spectacular location and featuring stunning decor, great food and drink offerings and a luxurious spa and fitness centre, what more could you possibly want?
Factbox
Double rooms from £70 in low season; and from £140 in high. Breakfast included. Half-board from £120 in low season; and from £190 in high.
Address: Esplanade Rd, Newquay TR7 1PT
Phone: 01637 852221
Website: fistralbeachhotel.co.uk
