Iconic Cornish pub celebrating 50 years in business
The Bowgie Inn sits upon West Pentire Point
An iconic Cornish pub is celebrating 50 years in business this year.
The Bowgie Inn sits upon West Pentire Point, a cliff top location in Crantock, Newquay and is often dubbed as "the pub with the best view in the world".
Landlord Andy Pickles has shared his memories of five decades of running the "pink pub":
"To me it’s like a big house, where everyone comes and goes. You wouldn’t recognise it now if you went back 50 years as we are always trying to improve it."
Taking on the pub in the 1970s, Andy transformed the Bowgie Inn from a country club to a very popular 'boisterous' pub, famous for live rock n’ roll music and renowned for its fancy dress parties.
Andy's parents, especially his father Stan, went from being customers to proud supporters of their son, the landlord.
Andy said: "You couldn’t see the dance floor as it was full of people in costume. The fancy dress nights definitely went down in history!"
The 90’s saw changes to licensing laws and suddenly there were many other places to go to in Newquay. The discos were starting to fade, so Andy and team identified special events as the way forward:
"We started doing weddings, civil ceremonies, live sports events. With our outstanding views and terrace there was no better place to hold those key events and this kept us going even in the winter months."
The pub also saw a major refurbishment, wanting to embrace "eco-conscious new technology".
Sally Pickles, who led the refurb, says: "It was definitely time to make some changes and the refurb had such a positive impact.
"It opened up the pub, made the view even bigger and better, it felt fresh and light and we were far better equipped to keep our customers happy and comfortable throughout the year, inside and out! It may not be ‘pink’ but it will always be the Bowgie to those who know and love it."
Daughter Tish Pickles is starting to take stronger hold of the reins, with the Bowgie planning to reinvent itself further.
Sally adds : "The whole family would like to thank anyone who has stood by us over the years, at the bar, on the dance floor, in our famous beer garden - this time would’ve been nothing without you!”
"From Ale festivals, to famous roasts, to fundraising events building on the £50,000 we’ve raised to date for Cornwall Hospice Care - who’s to say what the next 50 years will bring, Maybe we will see the return of the famous Ale Festival!"
Tish adds: "When you consider what an amazing 50 years we’ve already had at the Bowgie, it’s going to be a hard act to follow for the next generation. One thing’s for sure though, it will be full of amazing people and of course that awesome view."