It’s safe to say that the Cornish town of Newquay is a popular tourist Hotspot. In fact, it can often feel a little too popular. With people flocking to this section of the north Cornwall coast, there are no shortage of great bars restaurants and most importantly – pubs – to cater to their every need, there is also the downside of jam-packed beaches, corny souvenir shops, and bars that tend to attract the stag and hen do crowd with cheap drinks and cheesy music.
That said, Newquay retains a lot of the charm that people associate with British seaside towns, and it is on one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the country, attracting surfers who travel from all over to ride the waves on Fistral beach, one of the most important places in the UK surfing scene. And what could be better after spending a salt-soaked day on a board than kicking back with a beer?
Though there are some great pubs in Newquay, the craft beer scene is relatively new, falling behind other south-west hotspots like Falmouth and Bristol. Gradually though, it’s catching up, with new breweries and craft beer bars popping up all the time.
The Best Breweries and Taprooms in Newquay
Throughout Cornwall, you will find that the beer scene is mostly dominated by Sharp’s (owned by Canadian bohemoth Molson Coors) and their Doom Bar, apparently the best-selling cask beer in the whole of the UK. You’ll find plenty of pubs owned by regional breweries such as St. Austell too, with their beers occupying the taps in almost every drinking spot around the county.
However, the big breweries dominating the beer drinking culture of the country haven’t done much to dissuade smaller breweries from appearing and tearing up the rule book. Despite its size, Newquay has been a little slower to the craft revolution than towns like Falmouth, but gradually green shoots are appearing, and it now has three fantastic local breweries that regularly produce wonderful beers.
Newquay Brewing Project
Kez Cunliffe and Ash Cartmel are both born and bred Newquay boys who spent years working in hospitality jobs around the town, however, their vision for a truly local craft brewery was fostered on the other side of the world.
It wasn’t until a globe-trotting trip around Canada, Austrailia and New Zealand that they developed a taste for these nation’s booming craft beer scenes and when Covid hit and they found themselves stranded back in Cornwall, they decided to set up their own brewery. What started with a home brew kit has developed into a fully kitted out micro brewery. Since purchasing a brew kit from Lostwithiel-based Fowey Brewery, the pair have moved production to The Brewhouse in Lanteague Studios – a small industrial complex od small businesses just outside of town – which they share with fellow Newquay brewers Lost Brewing Co.
Half of the unit is taken up by their shared taproom where you will find their core beers and a rotating roster of specials on tap.
Where: The Brewhouse, Unit 12, Lanteague Studios, Scotland Rd
When: Fri, Sat & Sun 12pm – 7pm
Lost Brewing Co.
Speaking of Lost Brewing Co, alongside their taproom at The Brewhouse, they have their own café and bar in the centre of Newquay on East Street, about mid-way between Towan Beach and Great Western Beach.
Founded in 2018 by two brothers, Daniel and Jamie, Lost Brewing Co. started as a home brewing project until they decided to open their own venue. Lost has a laid back vibe with over 40 beers on tap and in the fridges that is varied and changes weekly. The food is good too, especially the veggie and vegan options.
Where: 58 East St
When: Daily 10am – 11pm
Black Flag Brewery
Although it’s not strictly in Newquay, you’ll find Black Flag Brewery just 15 minutes down the road on an industrial estate at the edge of the pretty seaside town of Perranporth. The taproom is a fantastic space, furnished with oak barrels that give a distinctly pirate-esque vibe and decorated with a beautiful mural of Perranporth that acts as a backdrop to the bar area.
With 8 keg lines, expect a wide range of their own beers, from American IPAs to a Munich inspired Dark lager and everything in between.
Where: Unit 1D, New Rd, Perranporth
When: Fri 5pm – 10pm; Sat 2pm – 10pm; Sun 2pm – 7pm
The Best Craft Beer Bars in Newquay
Take a quick walk around Newquay and you will soon notice that this seaside town isn’t short on pubs and bars. However, you will find that the vast amount of these venues are catering to holiday makers, stag/hen parties, and weekend revelers, serving up mass-produced lagers in settings that don’t always lend themself to a nice relaxing pint. Dedicated craft beer bars are few and far between, but there are some venues dishing out the good stuff. Here are my three favourites:
The Sink Inn
It’s difficult to talk about the south east’s craft beer scene without mentioning Cornish craft beer giants Verdant. First appearing in 2014 in their native Falmouth, they have risen over the past decade to become one of the most talked about breweries in the UK Beer scene.
Although you will have to head to Falmouth to visit the brewery itself, Verdant have outposts elsewhere in the shape of Schooners in St. Agnes and The Sink Inn in Newquay. Located in the heart of Newquay, The Sink Inn has 10 lines of craft beer and cider (6 of which are dedicated to Verdant’s brews) as well as a selection of verdant cans to takeaway.
Where: Beach Rd
When: Sun to Thurs 12pm – 11pm, Fri & Sat 12pm – 1.30am
Selkies NQY
When I last visited Newquay, in between lockdowns during the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, the space that Selkies now occupies was home to a fantastic little bottle shop that was well stocked with beers by both Cornish and international breweries. So imagine my disappointment when I arrived at the door to find that it was no longer here.
Thankfully, my sorrow was short lived when I found that the building is now taken up by Selkies, a café bar run by husband and wife duo Steve and Debs. Selkies forgoes the usual wood and steel industrial styles that dominate most taprooms, instead opting for décor inspired by Deb’s love of the sea: plush blue velvet stools and maritime inspired artwork. Although the beer menu isn’t as extensive as some of the others on this list, or the bottle shop that once stood here, there is a good selection of local beers.
Where: 5 Cheltenham Pl
When: Daily 2pm – 12pm
The Boathouse
The boathouse is more than just a standard pub or craft beer bar. Located on the beach right beside Newquay Harbour, this is a street food market where a gathering of local street food traders serve up fresh Cornish seafood and a varied selection of international dishes. Behind the bar you’ll find a great selection of Cornish craft beers on tap or in cans.
Where: Newquay Harbour
When: Daily 10am – 10pm
