Newquay Town Centre Was Too Quiet During Last Year’s Boardmasters

Ask any business owner in Newquay what August should look like, and you will hear the same thing. It should be one of the busiest weeks of the year. Last year, parts of the town centre were the opposite.

That is the message coming out of Newquay BID and local traders ahead of this year’s Boardmasters Festival, which returns to Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach from 5th to 9th August 2026.

The pitch to visitors is simple. Stop avoiding the town.

The misconception local traders want to kill off

Boardmasters has long carried a reputation for clogging Newquay’s roads and packing out its pavements. According to the people running the town, that picture is out of date.

Mark Warren, manager of Newquay BID, said the perception is doing real damage to August trade.

“There is still this perception that Boardmasters week is a complete no-go zone for Newquay, that traffic is at a standstill and the town is jam-packed everywhere you go. The reality is that this simply isn’t the case anymore,” Mark said.

“Boardmasters have done a tremendous job over the last few years improving transport systems, traffic management and how festivalgoers arrive into the area. More people are travelling by coach than ever before, fewer cars are being used, and the road traffic management plans now work really, really well.”

He went further on what happened last summer.

“Last year, if anything, the town centre was actually too quiet in places during Boardmasters week, which was disappointing for many businesses because August should naturally be one of our busiest trading periods.”

“We genuinely believe some people are avoiding Newquay unnecessarily because of outdated perceptions about the festival week. We now need to completely change that narrative.”

What has actually changed

The infrastructure around the festival has been quietly upgraded over recent years. Newquay now benefits from enhanced rail capacity, including the ability to run hourly train services into the town, alongside expanded park-and-ride options and improved traffic flow systems.

There is also extensive car parking provision across the town, much of which sits underused during Boardmasters week.

The evening economy is becoming the real story

One pattern Newquay BID is leaning into this year is what happens after the music stops at the festival site.

Many festivalgoers head back to Boardmasters in the evenings, leaving the daytime in town quieter than people expect and the evenings still lively. That gives visitors and residents a window to enjoy restaurants, bars and venues without the crowds people imagine.

Mark wants holidaymakers to put the dates back in their calendar.

“Please put that August week back in your diary as a week to come to Newquay. The beaches are stunning and often quieter than people expect. Our award-winning restaurants, bars, cafés, independent shops and hospitality businesses are all open and ready for visitors.”

“We have seven incredible beaches, a mural trail that everybody is talking about, amazing independent businesses, fantastic nightlife, live events and an incredible community atmosphere. There is so much happening across the town.”

New activity around Killacourt

Newquay BID is working alongside the organisers of Boardmasters, Wax Events and Newquay Town Council on additional activations within the town itself across the festival week.

This year will see new activity around Killacourt, intended to keep the town centre vibrant during the festival period rather than leaving it in the shadow of Watergate Bay and Fistral.

“We’re working hard with businesses so they can really shout about what they’re doing during Boardmasters week,” Mark said.

“We want people to understand that this isn’t about what’s happening at Watergate Bay or Fistral alone. It’s about supporting the wider town and ensuring Newquay businesses benefit from one of the biggest visitor periods of the year.”

The bigger picture for Newquay

Fistral Beach remains the spiritual home of Boardmasters, and festival organisers are working with local stakeholders to tie the festival more closely to the town itself.

For the BID, the balance is straightforward. Back the festival, but make sure the town centre gets its share of one of the biggest visitor weeks of the year.

“At the end of the day, Boardmasters is hugely important for Newquay,” Mark added.

“We’re really behind the event and the direction it’s moving in, but it’s equally important that we continue supporting the businesses in our town centre. That remains our key focus.”

“The message this year is simple. Newquay is open, welcoming and ready for visitors during Boardmasters week. Our transport systems can now comfortably handle the festival alongside everyday tourism, and our businesses need that support during one of the most important weeks of the summer. Please come and enjoy everything Newquay has to offer.”

Boardmasters 2026 runs from 5th to 9th August at Watergate Bay and Fistral Beach.