I visited Cornwall for the Easter break staying just outside Newquay. I must admit I was worried about how the weather might turn out but couldn’t have picked a better week with sunshine all the way. We visited lots of different locations my favourite being St Ives which I hadn’t been to since 1978 so anyone who hasn’t yet been I would recommend a visit. I also managed to visit Rick Steins restaurant in Padstow and had lunch there, the set menu was £35 per head without wine, the food was as you would expect was first class especially my starter of tiger prawns and seared monkfish with a warm salad, followed by sea bass and a selection of vegetables and just to push the boat out homemade bakewell tart (www.rickstein.com) We also called at Jamie Olivers Fifteen in Watergate Bay, Newquay (Kopykat printed the original marketing material for the restaurant when it opened) but unfortunately we couldn’t get a table but the restaurant certainly looked very nice inside with great sea views. In the bay itself there seems to be lots of sympathetic building going on that will improve it further. if you are into extreme sports there is a hotel on the beach called The Hotel Watergate Bay and extreme academy which caters for all sorts of extreme sports; amongst them kite surfing, surfing, traction kite and wave ski. Visitwww.watergatebay.co.uk, www.fifteencornwall.co.uk
Richard and Judy have a holiday home in Cornwall and in one of their newspaper columns they recommend The Crown Inn at Lanlivery, near Bodmin. They were spot on an excellent pub with good food although the only way in is through a series of country lanes with enough just for one car so be prepared. The Crown also has rooms available for rent. Visit www.wagtailinns.com
If you are in Newquay another place worth visiting for breakfast is the Lakeside Café overlooking Newquay boating lake. Some great breakfasts are served overlooking the lake parking, prices are very reasonable and much better than the average breakfast served in most places. They are based in Trenance lane TR7 2HX. Although a website is coming soon (www.lakesidenewquay.co.uk ) they have now opened of a night as well. Finally, if you have children go to the Rashleigh Inn on Polkerris beach, near Par and have a bite to eat while the children play on the sand. The service was a little slow but to be fair lots of people had called in and the weather was unseasonally good so they might have been caught by surprise. (www.therashleighinnpolkerris.co.uk)
