WHAT? WHERE?

If the location looks familiar but you can’t quite picture the name, Polzeath Beach House is the newly relaunched and reimagined Atlantic Hotel, which has graced the clifftop above the beautiful safe sandy family friendly beach of Polzeath since 1903. First built to satisfy that Victorian need to take the sea air, the old building with 27 bedrooms no longer exists, but in its place with the same inspiring views across the water to the Padstow side of the Camel Estuary, stands the new Polzeath Beach House, now with nine sea view self-catering apartments and 12 double or twin hotel rooms.

THE VIBE

Part contemporary surf lodge, part family beach house, PBH is super laid back and friendly, literally above the wide sandy beach of Polzeath looking over towards the iconic Stepper Point with Trevose lighthouse beyond.

Each self-catering apartment also has access to the residents lounge, which is super chilled; full of drinks and games and additional spaces to hang out (or work if you need). Completing the surf and beach friendly set up, there is also 24 hour access to the ‘Surf Shack’ aka very handy changing / drying room including space to store boards and wetsuits, complete with showers, all accessible from the outside, so no having to drip wetsuits and boards back inside.

SCOFF AND QUAFF

Head to Harbour Brewery’s The Atlantic Bar and Kitchen which occupies the downstairs and is open to non-residents too, for breakfast, lunch, evening meals and drinks.

It first flung wide its sea-view doors, serving up small plates and their famous 20 inch pizzas on the Atlantic Terrace alongside drinks from the brewery, of course, in 2021, and has expanded the menu for 2022 to include hand-made pastas, salads and other Italian style dishes. The doors fold right back for more of the gorgeous view in summer sunshine, or, make a great place for some winter storm watching.

All resident guests can book into The Atlantic Bar and Kitchen for breakfast, serving Cornish classics including cooked breakfasts, and surfer-style American pancakes alongside tea and coffee.

In the afternoons and evenings, the bar serves beers from the Brewery as well as a bijou list of cocktails and High-Point mocktails.

If you’re in the apartments, the kitchens are fully fitted out for everything from your morning coffee right the way through to the where-with-all to get cooking an elaborate dinner for six to serve on the outside patio table. Our apartment even had a decent sized wine fridge (plus a washing machine and so on hidden away in a hall cupboard), so you’re all set for whatever catering you fancy. The nearest shop is in Polzeath, a little walk away along the cliff path, or, drive round to Rock for the Spar and other food shops including fish monger and butchers. The nearest proper supermarket is in Wadebridge, or, you can get an online delivery.

STAY

We stayed in one of the nine sea view self-catering apartments and ours opened out of two rooms onto the sea-facing sun terrace, which also faces west so you get the best of the sunsets. As you might expect from such a location, the decor largely played along the blue / mustard Cornish coastal theme, with plenty of added textures to soften the white walls and neutral furniture.

For those that like to unpack – apparently some people prefer to not live out of their suitcase their entire trip – there was plenty of drawer and wardrobe space, and the beds were extremely comfortable. Such a nice place to enjoy a morning coffee (coffee machine included in all apartments and hotel rooms) with the window open to hear the waves and the seagulls. Our main bedroom had an en-suite bathroom, plus there was a family bathroom too, showers only in the one we stayed in, all newly installed and pleasingly neutral. With only basic soap included though, you’ll need to pack your own toiletries for the apartments.

Living wise, there were more than enough seating for the whole family to stretch out and enjoy watching a film on the big TV, with wifi and screen mirroring available to stream from your own phone, as well as indoor and outdoor dining space.

KID FRIENDLY?

Yes, for sure! The self-catering apartment that we stayed in had a twin room and the kids were very pleased with the selection of board games in the resident lounge that they were able to bring back to the apartment to play. We had a gloriously sunny weekend so spent almost our entire time on the beach, but, should it rain, PBH has enough going on that you can keep them occupied, or, head straight out from the board storage / changing rooms in wetsuits and then back in again for hot showers.

Polzeath Beach House is the perfect escape for outdoor loving families, with surfing and walking right on the door step. Equipment hire, boat trips and beach fitness classes are all on offer with their partnership with Wavehunters, and for a little adult time too, get the kids booked into beach school, Wild Warriors, which runs a holiday club, wild activities and a beach creche for the little ones.

OUT AND ABOUT

Take to the water, or head out on the Wouth West Coast Path – one of Muddy’s favourite walks, The Rumps (below) can start and finish at PBH, or, head up to the National Trust café and orchard at Pentire, where there are also trails suitable for wheeled buggies (and you can hire a tramper too, if you don’t have wheels for off-roading).

The amenities of Polzeath itself, including bars, cafés, shops, restaurants and more are just a short walk down the coast-path. Polzeath is at the pinnacle of north Cornwall’s so-called ‘golden triangle’, so Rock, Daymer, Trebetherick and even Padstow are not far away which means lots of foodie choices plus literally miles of different beaches.

For those who like keeping fit, as well as fitness and yoga on the beach, run by Wavehunters, there’s also two golf courses including the championship course at St Enodocs and The Point at Polzeath, which also has a pool, gym and two Padel tennis courts available to hire.

While most don’t let rain stop proceedings, Wadebridge, with its shops, supermarkets and cinema is just a few miles in-land and the fine dining restaurants of Port Isaac are also just a couple of miles drive up the coast. Padstow may be a little drive away, but it’s also a short hop across the Estuary on the ferry or water taxi from Rock.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Good for: Families looking for a relaxing base with easy – and kid friendly – beach access for all manner of outdoor sports; walkers wanting to be on the south-west coast path; couples seeking a quiet weekend with sea-views; winter storm-watchers and those seeking a quieter beach-side hotel. Anyone who needs a wheelchair will also find PBH to their liking as there is easy access, including to a dedicated accessible suite and to the restaurant, plus trails that can be accessed from the door – with beach access a short drive round to Polzeath itself where the carpark is on the sand. Super fast WIFI included makes it a great place for families where someone needs to work while the other takes the kids to the beach.

Not for: Anyone who likes their hotels with a side of town-like amenities. Polzeath Beach House is out on the other side of the headland to the rest of Polzeath, just the hotel and a few neighbours in a row on the front. Polzeath itself which although not that big is a ten minute walk along the coast path, which makes it beautifully quiet and perfect for a dawn surf.

The damage: Hotel rooms in September start from £200 per night / Apartments to sleep up to 6 start at £335.

Polzeath Beach House, Atlantic Mews, New Polzeath, PL27 6US

polzeathbeachhouse.co.uk

Muddy Reviews: Polzeath Beach House, Polzeath

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