Nestled in the rocks of Cornwall on the shores of the Atlantic, lies Watergate Bay Hotel.
The Living Space, one of the hotel’s three eateries, has a polished yet eclectic style, with an array of painted chairs and comfy sofas making for a welcoming place to eat and relax. The restaurant boasts an open plan kitchen and a fantastic view of the ocean, and is open all day – the ideal place to enjoy the dazzling Cornish sunsets. With a Mediterranean-influenced menu, bursting with fresh ingredients and local produce, you’re sure to find something to pique your fancy – and your hunger. Some dishes are designed with sharing in mind, like the Living Space antipasti board of Italian olives, cured meats, cheese, roasted garlic houmous, vegetables and chillies. The salads, from grilled halloumi to marinated bang bang chicken offer a great range of delicious flavours, whilst the ‘hearty and wholesome’ large plates engage with more traditional fare, such as classic fish and chips, succulent burgers and hand-rolled fish cakes. And if you still have space for desert, you can take your pick from cheesecake, banana split, locally sourced ice cream or chocolate mousse.
Right on the sand, The Beach Hut brings your dining experience as close as possible to Watergate Bay itself without getting your toes wet. A decked balcony runs along the outside, providing the perfect spot for a summer evening meal. Start the day right with breakfast, and enjoy a range of freshly made smoothies whilst tucking in to sweet waffles with bacon and syrup or smoked Severn and Wye salmon and scrambled eggs on toast. With a keen emphasis on local and seasonal produce, the lunch and dinner menu has a tasty array of fish dishes – grilled tiger prawns, Thai mussels, fried fish sandwiches and more. The Beach Hut classic burger is 100 per cent prime Cornish beef, with Swiss cheese, tomato relish, garlic mayo, salad and of course, fries. Other highlights include the slow cooked pulled pork burger, with spicy jalapeños, and the falafel burger with harissa relish. If that’s not enough to get your mouth watering, the desert menu will. The trademark Beach Hut sundae features ice cream, apricots, toasted almonds, syrup and Mascarpone vanilla cream.
Neil Haydock is the man behind the menus. His years of experience in renowned eateries from London to Barbados are putting Watergate Bay firmly on the map as a particularly delicious destination. The executive chef can be seen in action on the hotel’s YouTube channel, cooking up a storm with more tasty (and of course, local) ingredients. You can even download his recipes from the Watergate Bay website – because after tasting some of these meals, you’re sure to want to try them at home.
