Newquay BID and Boardmasters Meet With Businesses Ahead of Festival

Newquay BID and the Boardmasters team have met with local businesses to discuss how the popular summer festival can continue to support the town and its economy.

The “Business to Boardmasters” meeting took place at the Oceanside Hotel on Tuesday 10th March. Representatives from both organisations, including Rob Spring and Ruth Willsher from the Boardmasters team, spoke with businesses about plans for this year’s event and how the festival can benefit the wider town centre.

Working Closer With Local Businesses

The session was organised to strengthen collaboration between Newquay BID and Boardmasters while giving businesses the opportunity to hear directly about festival plans.

Discussions focused on how both organisations can work together to support businesses across Newquay, not only around the festival sites but throughout the town centre.

Boardmasters has long been a major event in Newquay’s calendar, attracting international attention to the town every August.

Addressing Perceptions About Festival Week

In recent years, there has been a perception that Newquay town centre becomes overly congested during the festival. Some visitors have avoided the town during Boardmasters week because of concerns about traffic and crowds.

Newquay BID Manager Mark Warren said this perception does not reflect how the event now operates.

“Newquay is always busy in August, but it’s important people understand that the town centre remains very much open for business during Boardmasters,” he said.

“Over the years there has been a perception that Newquay becomes too busy during the festival, with concerns around traffic congestion and the town being dominated by younger partygoers. In reality, the event has evolved significantly, with improved traffic management, more controlled access, increased policing and stronger operational planning across the festival sites.”

Last Year’s Event ‘Extremely Well Managed’

According to Newquay BID, last year’s festival was widely recognised as being extremely well managed.

Improved traffic systems and clearer operational processes helped minimise disruption to the town centre during the event.

“In fact, many businesses found the town centre quieter than expected during Boardmasters week,” Mark added. “The message we want to get out locally and nationally is that Newquay is open for business and there is no need to avoid the town during the festival.”

New Plans To Bring Visitors Into Town

During the meeting, attention also turned to ways of encouraging more visitors into the town centre during the festival.

Ideas include promoting local businesses more actively through festival communications and hosting additional activities within the town centre itself.

Newquay BID is also planning to introduce a town centre market alongside a series of smaller events during the festival period, aimed at giving visitors more reasons to explore the town beyond the main festival sites.

Visitors will also be able to use shuttle bus services into Newquay, while shops, restaurants and attractions across the town remain fully open.

“Newquay has award-winning restaurants and bars, incredible beaches and a fantastic mix of independent businesses,” Mark said. “The nightlife in the town itself can actually be quieter during Boardmasters because many festival-goers stay on site in the evenings.”

“We want holidaymakers and visitors to feel confident about coming to Newquay during Boardmasters week. The town is welcoming, the businesses are open, and there is so much happening across the area.”

Ongoing Collaboration

Both Newquay BID and the Boardmasters team agreed that keeping regular dialogue with local businesses is important to ensure the festival continues to evolve in a way that benefits the wider community.

The meeting forms part of an ongoing collaboration between the two organisations aimed at ensuring Boardmasters continues to deliver economic and cultural benefits for Newquay.