Events in Newquay range from Boardmasters across Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay to food and beer festivals in town. If you’re planning a trip, check each organiser’s latest event details before booking: dates and practical arrangements can change.
- Boardmasters: two sites, with the ticketed main festival at Watergate Bay and a free public area at Fistral Beach.
- Newquay Food Festival: a free-to-attend food event at Killacourt.
- Newquay Beer Festival: a charity event featuring drinks, food and live music.
- Hotel location: Priory Lodge Hotel is about 4 minutes on foot from Newquay city centre.
Boardmasters at Fistral Beach and Watergate Bay
Boardmasters splits its programme between a ticketed main festival at Watergate Bay and a public, free-to-attend area at Fistral Beach. Watergate Bay holds the campsites and Main Arena; at Fistral, the programme includes the surf competition, skate activities, a beach bar and a shopping village.
Fistral Beach itself is not ticketed, and beach access is available at any time. Individual businesses set their own hours, while the event’s venue opening times and surf competition schedule can vary. For the ticketed site, entry searches are a condition of entry, and ticket holders are expected to bring valid original identification; photos and photocopies are not accepted.
For event travel, Boardmasters says trains run to Newquay via Great Western Railway, with a connection at Par. From Newquay station, you can take the festival shuttle or a taxi to Blue Gate. The shuttle also links the festival site with Newquay Train Station and Manor Road Bus Station.
Manor Road is the closest shuttle stop to Fistral Beach, about a 20-minute walk away. Shuttle wristbands are available in advance or on site and allow unlimited travel on the shuttle during the festival weekend.
If you drive, enter through Green Gate, follow festival signs near the site rather than sat-nav directions, and arrange a parking pass in advance because on-site parking is limited. Headland Road is closed to vehicles during the event except for residents and guests staying at The Headland Hotel.
There is no public parking at Fistral, including Blue Badge parking; Blue Badge drop-offs can be accommodated at the Fistral Beach car park. Boardmasters says accessible facilities cover the Fistral event site, shopping village and beach-complex amenities, except the surf-deck balcony.
At Watergate Bay, general-admission camping facilities include water points, toilets, showers for an additional cost, Cribbar Village, Cribbar Hall stage and 24-hour campsite hubs. For a separate coastal outing, the Watergate Bay day-out and route guide can help you plan time in the area.
What food festivals are held in Newquay?
The Newquay Food Festival takes place at Killacourt as a free-to-attend event, with a programme built around food and local producers. Activities include restaurant pop-ups, open-fire cooking, chef demonstrations and an independent produce market, alongside live music and talks about food and sustainability.
For a change of pace from festival programming, Newquay Harbour and the nearby coastal walk make a natural pairing with time in town.
What is the Newquay Beer Festival like?
The Newquay Beer Festival is a charity event with beers, ciders and other drinks, plus live music and food. Newquay Towan Blystra Lions Club (CIO) organises it, and the festival has raised money for local good causes since it began.
The organiser describes the event as ticketed, with tickets bought in advance. Dates, opening hours and ticket arrangements are time-sensitive, so check the official site before you go.
How should you plan accommodation and event travel?
Start by matching your plans to the event’s venue: Boardmasters uses both Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach, while the food festival is at Killacourt and the beer festival has been held at Hendra Holiday Park. Each organiser’s current information is the best place to confirm dates, entry rules and transport arrangements before booking.
For your stay, the hotel’s available rooms are in Newquay. If Boardmasters is part of your plans, consider the difference between its two sites: the main festival and campsites are at Watergate Bay, while Fistral Beach hosts a separate public event area.
Shuttle links serve Newquay station and Manor Road Bus Station, but the walk from Manor Road to Fistral takes about 20 minutes.
Before you go: Check the official site for each event before you go, especially for current dates, venue hours, ticket rules and travel details.
FAQs
Is the Boardmasters Fistral Beach area ticketed?
No. The Fistral Beach area is free and open to the public, although individual businesses set their own hours.
Where is the ticketed Boardmasters main festival?
The main festival, campsites and Main Arena are at Watergate Bay. The Fistral Beach site hosts surf and other activities.
Is the Newquay Food Festival free?
Yes. It is free to attend at Killacourt.
Does the Newquay Beer Festival require tickets?
Yes. The event is described as pre-bought-ticket only, so check the organiser’s current ticket arrangements before making plans.