SeaSpace near Newquay is Cornwall’s first coastal aparthotel. Natasha Harding and her family spent two nights recently and were seriously impressed with the views, pool and laid-back vibes.
Mural, SeaSpace Cornwall ©Amie Scott
It was a glorious sunny Friday when we checked in at SeaSpace – which is situated in the seaside hamlet of Porth, about a 5 minute drive from Newquay. The first thing Lexi noticed was the huge pink pirate ship, followed by the playgrounds.
SeaSpace opened their doors in October 2024 with the aim of offering the freedom of self-catering accommodation combined with the perks of a Cornwall family hotel.
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Large Studio Apartment, SeaSpace Cornwall ©Adj Brown
SeaSpace Cornwall family studios are cute and roomy
We stayed in an ocean-view second floor studio apartment which consisted of a large living space, including a king-size bed, seating area, fully-equipped kitchen and shower room, as well as a separate bunk room.
There are also larger apartments available if you’re travelling with more than two children.
Many parents will have memories of spending their evenings sitting silently in the dark in a hotel room once their child is asleep, by complete contrast, SeaSpace is designed so everybody’s needs are met.
It was a perfect size for three with lots of cool touches: wooden surfboards on the wall and sea-inspired artwork.
Of course, the uninterrupted view of the ocean was the highlight of SeaSpace for us. If I’d been travelling without a young person I would have sat there gazing out of the window for many an hour. However, the pool was calling.
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Pool, SeaSpace Cornwall ©Maciej Zalewski
Don’t get us started on the seriously cool pool
Lexi and I checked out the pool a lot during our visit at SeaSpace. Not only is it a decent 19m size, it’s open from 7am to 9pm, and families can swim between 9am and 7pm.
There’s also a hot tub, with sea glimpses and a kids’ splash pool.
Fitness lovers will be impressed with the incredibly well equipped on site gym, and if you’re keen to join a group exercise class, options include yoga, Pilates and HITT classes.
Lexi particularly loved the ground floor games room which had a football table, dartboard, basketball hoop, Lego table and lots of books and games. It is a lovely space, and scrupulously clean too.
Outside, is also a kids’ paradise and they’ve made the most of every bit of space. So children can let off steam in the adventure parks, lose themselves in the maze and even cook up a storm in the mud kitchen.
Plus, there are lots of benches for parents to rest on – if they get the chance!
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Café, SeaSpace Cornwall ©Maciej Zalewski
Pretty Porth Beach is just a short walk from SeaSpace Cornwall
Also on-site is a café which was buzzing when we arrived on Friday afternoon. SeaSpace encourage remote workers to meet there so there were lots of people on their laptops, and groups of friends catching up.
The café is open from 7.30am and we had breakfast there both days. The menu is extensive and offers everything from granola to a full English.
Try Tallo for dinner with amazing views on the side
On our first evening we dined at the on-site restaurant, Tallo, which is open seven days and has a relaxed, lively atmosphere, as well as an interior dominated by that wonderful view.
The food is good and you can choose small plates that are designed for sharing or large plates if you want a more substantial meal.
Options include Buffalo Chicken Wings, Tallo Cheeseburger, Crab Pappardelle and Sirloin Steak. The kids’ menu hit the spot too, as did the cocktails and mocktails.
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End the day with a spectacular sunset over the sea
Porth Beach is a mere ten minute walk down the hill and incredibly popular with families as it’s protected by headlands on either side and the water is shallow, making it ideal for paddling and swimming.
We walked down to the beach after dinner and it was a lovely way to finish the day and enjoy the pretty spectacular sunset.
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Natasha & Lexie, Newquay Activity Centre ©Natasha Harding
Sign us up for all the thrills at Newquay Activity Centre
On Saturday morning, after breakfast and a swim, we made our way into Newquay where Lexi and I had booked a Coaster & Super SUP session with Newquay Activity Centre.
This turned out to be two hours of navigating the epic coastline, jumping from the cliffs into the sea and then riding a giant SUP. It was a pretty awesome way to spend a Saturday afternoon, despite having to climb an almost vertical cliff at one point. Gulp.
After all of the activity, we were glad to get back to SeaSpace for (another) relaxing swim.
Part of the beauty of SeaSpace is how much there is to do in and around the hotel, so if you fancied staying put for the weekend, you absolutely could.
On Saturday evening, we had dinner in our room before taking a stroll down the hill into Porth for some sunset beach action. It was one of those idyllic evenings that reminds us all that the best times come from the simple pleasures.
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Camel Ski School, Rock, Cornwall
A Chariot Ride makes a perfect end to our SeaSpace weekend
We had an early breakfast before leaving on Sunday morning, and on our way home we stopped off at Camel Ski School in Rock, which is the UK’s largest water-ski centre.
Rock – which is often referred to as Britain’s Saint-Tropez – can get incredibly busy during the peak season, but at 9am on a Sunday morning, it was blissfully quiet with just the occasional dog walker around.
Water-skiing may have been a bit beyond our skill set, but Lexi and I had a 30 minute Chariot Ride where we were towed behind a boat at high speed on disc shaped inflatables: I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time.
It was certainly a different way to wake up on a Sunday and one we’d definitely do again. Paul was our spotter, so travelled on the boat, and enjoyed it as much as we did.
After a balanced weekend of relaxing, great food and physical activity at SeaSpace, we were happy to make our way home with our minds full of wonderful memories.
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How to plan SeaSpace Cornwall
How to get there
SeaSpace is 5 minutes drive north of Newquay
Where to stay
SeaSpace, Large Studio (2 adults, 2 children) from £160 per night