The Esplanade Hotel review: a family-friendly beachfront retreat in Newquay

Our verdict

With a prime beachfront location just steps from surfing hotspot Fistral Beach, The Esplanade Hotel in Newquay makes an excellent base for a family holiday in Cornwall. There are rooms to suit couples and families of all sizes and you can bring the dog along, which may explain why I've booked to return with my family for the third year on the trot.  

The Esplanade has loads of family-friendly amenities including a cinema, an indoor swimming pool, a games room and an outdoor play area as well as a jam–packed entertainment programme during the school holiday providing fun for kids whatever the weather.

The location is hard to beat, the spacious rooms are well laid out and the facilities are excellent for kids of all ages. And we thoroughly enjoyed all the thoughtful touches - from the build-a-bear teddies on arrival to the hot chocolate stations and mini dressing gowns in the rooms. We're already looking forward to returning.

How we tested

This review is based on our family holiday taken at the end of August where we stayed in a sea-view family room for four nights. I travelled down from Birmingham with my two daughters aged 8 and 11. As a city dweller, we love to get our annual dose of coastal sea air and adore visiting Cornwall. We’ve stayed at the Esplanade twice now over two consecutive summers and we're booked to return this year. 

What are the rooms like

The Esplanade has spacious family rooms that can accommodate up to six guests, with the setup varying depending on the age of your children. On our first visit, we had a family room with a double bed and two singles, while on our second, we had a double and a single bunk bed – the latter was a huge hit with the girls. 

While you pay a little extra for the benefit, some of the family rooms have balconies with views over the outdoor playground, while others situated at the front of the hotel boast impressive sea views. We opted for a sea view both times and it was worth every penny. With stunning views of Fistral Beach, it's a magical sight to wake up to. I made sure to start the day watching the waves crash onto the beach before the girls woke up from their slumber. 

The rooms have lots of useful features for families including Child’s Farm toiletries and mini dressing gowns in the wardrobe, which the girls loved - perfect for snuggling into after a busy day at the beach. There’s also a fan and heater should the weather get extremely hot (or cold), ensuring that everyone gets a good night’s sleep. 

It's worth noting that not all rooms have baths. If you're travelling with young children you may want to double-check this when booking.

We loved the mini fridge to keep our drinks and snacks cool during the day. Each room also has a kettle and a hot chocolate station with mini biscuits (replenished daily) and a selection of hot chocolates and sachets of cordial for the kids. 

Upon check-in, each child gets their own build-a-bear-style teddy in a bag and the girls loved bringing them to life as we unpacked. The staff couldn’t be more welcoming and it's the little touches like this that make younger guests feel really special. 

What activities are on offer for kids at The Esplanade?

Where do I even start? One of the main reasons we return to The Esplanade year after year is that this hotel is so child-friendly (and dog-friendly too!). Whatever the weather, there's always something to do so you can make the most of your holiday and create cherished memories with your kids.

Here are just a few of the family-friendly facilities:

Indoor pool

While it’s not huge, The Esplanade is lucky enough to have its own indoor pool with a shallow section that's perfect for younger children. We’ve lucked out with the weather during our stays, so while we only visited once or twice during each trip, it was great to have a backup option if the weather took a turn. 

The pool is open daily from 8am to 9pm numbers are restricted so it never feels too busy or crowded. 

Parents can also take a dip in the hot tub or sauna. There are lockers to keep your belongings safe as you swim.

Indoor play/games area 

The jungle gym/soft play area features a large slide and soft matting and is a big hit with younger children. Located just off the main restaurant and close enough for parents to supervise, it allows children to play while waiting for dinner. For older kids, there's a pool table, a giant Connect-4 game and table football.

Cinema 

For rainy days or even cosy evenings before bed, The Esplanade has its very own little cinema which screens family-friendly films throughout the day and evening. You can see what films are on offer on the board in reception, with options ranging from The Greatest Showman to Matilda the Musical.

Outdoor pirate play area

On sunny days, the pirate-themed play area is a great place for kids to burn off some steam before bed. Tucked away at the back of the hotel, it features agility ropes, bridges and slides, as well as grass areas for kids to run around or role-play walking the plank.

The play area was relatively quiet during our stay, making it a peaceful space to relax. We loved grabbing a drink from the bar and chilling in the sunshine while the kids made new friends. 

Free activity schedule

During the school holidays, The Esplanade has its own entertainment programme which is completely free of charge. During our visit, the girls took part in biscuit decorating and cocktail making but other activities including craft and pizza making too - great fun for all ages.

Fistral Beach

It goes without saying that having Fistral Beach on the doorstep is a great source of entertainment – especially when the sun is shining. While the Quicksilver Surf School attached to the hotel is perfect for those wishing to ride some waves, we spent a considerable amount of time simply enjoying our surroundings – from building sandcastles to heading out on picturesque coastal walks with our camera. 

The hotel’s borrow box means you don’t need to pack (or spend a fortune buying) regular beach items like buckets, spades and windbreaks. Guests often leave items behind and the girls loved raiding the large treasure chest in reception before heading down to the sand.

Babysitting services

If you’re travelling with younger children and fancy a bit of a break, the hotel offers a babysitting service with registered babysitters available between 6pm and 12pm each night. While you do have to stay on site, this is a great opportunity to head to the adults-only Elements bar for a cheeky cocktail before bed. 

What’s the food like? 

Ask my youngest daughter her favourite part of our holidays at The Esplanade and ‘breakfast’ would be pretty high up on the list. The Cove restaurant offers panoramic views of Fistral Beach and as mornings go, tucking into a fresh pain au chocolat while watching the ocean is a pretty good way to start the day. The vibe is relaxed and casual, and we were always able to enjoy breakfast at our own pace without feeling rushed. 

Breakfast is two courses – a combination of a help-yourself-style buffet and hot food made to order, which set us up for the day and often meant we didn't need lunch!  

The girls loved tucking into cereals and fresh pastries as well as patiently waiting for their toast to work its way through the retro-style toasting machine. After a continental starter, we were then able to order full English breakfasts, pancakes and my eldest’s personal favourite - scrambled egg on toast. As a mum to two picky eaters, it was also great that the staff could cater for specific requests - like putting beans in a separate bowl or removing one of the ingredients. 

While we wouldn't be able to justify the cost of eating there every night, we also enjoyed several meals at the hotel’s restaurant in the evenings during our stay. 

With a separate children’s menu featuring family favourites like spaghetti bolognaise, burgers and chicken strips, there's also a range of specials on offer each night. Portions were generous and the food was delicious and well presented, which felt like a real treat. 

After we’d finished desserts, we loved heading down to the beach to watch the sunset - a beautiful way to end the day.

What is there to do nearby?

With Fistral Beach on your doorstep, you could easily spend your whole time within the immediate surroundings of the hotel.

There are two main ways to access the beach – either down some steep steps or via the slightly longer but more gentle promenade. If you’re unsteady on your feet or have little legs in tow, you’re probably better off taking the longer, flatter route as coming back up the steps can certainly get your heart racing.

At the far end of the beach, you’ll find a busy Fistral Beach hub with a selection of shops and restaurants including Rick Stein’s fish restaurant and The Stable for stonebaked pizzas. We really enjoyed the latter and booked in several times for evening meals during our stay - you can also grab a takeaway and tuck in on the beach if you prefer. 

If you fancy heading further afield to explore some of Cornwall's best attractions, Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium and Flambards Theme Park are worth a visit. We also love taking a drive out to nearby Watergate Bay and The Lost Gardens of Heligan, for long days out getting up close and personal with nature. 

About the author

Lucy Cotterill is a mum of two and a Content Writer at Mumsnet, specialising in baby/child and lifestyle product reviews and roundups. Having written product reviews on her own blog Real Mum Reviews since 2012, Lucy loves to research and explore the pros and cons of products, scrutinising reviews and consumer feedback to help people make confident purchases.   

Loving nothing more than UK family holidays, city breaks and days out with the kids, Lucy has written several travel guides for Mumsnet, including the Best family hotels in Cornwall and the Best holiday parks in Devon