Great Western Hotel, Newquay

Great Western Hotel

In December 1877, the local newspaper reported that the owner, Mr Henry Francis Whitefield, had commenced building the hotel, near Newquay railway station,[5] Plans drawn up by Trevail show that the hotel would have about fifty rooms, including a café, restaurant and a room in which concerts or lectures may be given.[5] The site would have "charming" view of the bay, and be close to the bathing beaches.[5]

In September 1878, Whitefield, applied for a licence for it to be called 'Great Western'.[6] The Great Western Railway gave £2,000 towards the building of the hotel.[7] In January 1879 the hotel was completed and it officially opened on 7 April 1879.[8] The hotel was built on the land of Tolcarne Farm. It was the first in a string of hotels designed to appeal to the renewed interest in Cornwall as a winter resort for the middle classes.[9]

The West Briton & Cornwall advertiser wrote:

The Great Western Hotel, at Newquay, opened for business on Monday, the 7th instant. The situation is all that can be desired, commanding magnificent views of the headland, harbour, and the coast up to Trevose Head. It is said there are fifty rooms. The architect was Mr. Silvanus Trevail. Doubtless the establishment will be appreciated by visitors to this delightful coast.[10]

Cornish Architect Silvanus Trevail

The original 1879 building resembled a large country house with pitched roofs, gable ends and attic windows.[7][15][16] The hotel was described, in a Newquay holiday guide, as having "Spacious Billiard & Coffee Rooms". It was the first to have en-suite rooms. Due to the increase in tourism in the late 1890's, an extension was built at rear, consisting of large rooms with bay windows.[15] In 1907, important alterations and additions were made to the hotel by local architects, Cowell & Cowell.[17] In 1931 the original modest two storey gabled building was altered beyond recognition[7][2] to the current symmetrical art-deco style building, consisting of three storeys with smooth external render, painted frontages, symmetrical sash windows and rusticated quoin detailing to corners.[18][19]

Before the railway came to Newquay in 1876,[20] the beach was known as Bothwick Sands. It wasn't until the Great Western Hotel was built in 1879, (overlooking the beach) that it was gradually became known as Great Western Beach, although on many Ordnance Survey maps and holiday guides until the 1960's both names were mentioned. Despite the name being linked to the hotel, the beach is a public amenity.[21]