NEWQUAY on Cornwall’s Atlantic Coast is often heralded as one of the country’s favourite seaside towns and is Britain’s unofficial surfing capital. IWAN GABE DAVIES stayed at the ideally situated Great Western Hotel, right in the heart of its lively heart.

FOR location alone, it’s hard to top the Great Western Hotel in Newquay’s bustling town centre.

Owned by the St Austell Brewery, it’s not only their Tribute beer that’s stunning there, because its claim to have the town’s best views seems to be a pretty strong one.

Staying there recently with my wife and 12-year-old daughter, it’s a three star hotel that’s very much family friendly hotel, offering some of the best value accommodation the resort has to offer.

Our large family bedroom was smartly decorated and comfortable, with the added bonus of having a wonderful vista of the coast.

When the weather’s right there is a cliff-top garden and terrace with outdoor bar to enjoy with surf racks and a children’s play area.

And it’s only a few short steps from the golden sandy beach and the sea just below.

The area is a veritable surfer’s paradise with top notch waves to be caught within a short driving distance.

Watergate Bay Beach, about three miles from Newquay is a large expanse of fine golden sand stretching for over two miles at the foot of steep cliffs.

A great mid-high tide sandy beach break with both left and rights, it is especially good for beginners.

A personal favourite of mine, often visited by my family, is the Mawgan Porth beach just five miles from Newquay.

It is a mecca for some of the best waves Cornwall has to produce and is a beautiful European Designated beach that has also achieved the highest UK standard for bathing water quality.

Once back at the hotel after an enjoyable day out and about, you can enjoy dinner at the Steam Bar and Restaurant.

The food here is not bad with the chicken liver pate (£5.95) to start, Tribute battered fish and chips (£9.95) for main and chocolate brownie (£4.85) all recommended.

St Austell Brewery also owns a friendly pub that does decent grub in the town called the Fort Inn (63 Fore Street, Newquay, Cornwall, TR7 1HA, Tel: 01637 875700, www.fortinnnewquay.co.uk).

Serving food daily from 12pm until 9pm ¬– including a specially created children’s menu – the Fort Inn has a large garden with both an indoor and outdoor play area overlooking Newquay bay and harbour.

An unpretentious place, the Great Western Hotel also has the added attraction of offering car parking for guests.

Also close to other bars and restaurants, as well as the shops, it’s a fine base to explore this lively town.

FACT FILE

Great Western Hotel, Cliff Rd, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 2NE, 01637 872010, www.greatwesternnewquay.co.uk

The hotel website guarantees that you won’t find room rates cheaper anywhere else.

For deals, they tell you to visit their special offers page there.