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Our story

Being footsteps away from the right beach changes everything. It’s something our founders have always believed in and a principle that continues to be at the heart of everything we do.

18 years ago, Watergate Bay Hotel’s Will and Pix Ashworth set up Beach Retreats with a simple premise in mind. Self-catering holidays always within walking distance of a good beach. Back then, we were a small collection of modern lets in and around the Bay. Today, hundreds of likeminded owners make up our portfolio of select beach retreats across Cornwall – each with impeccable standards, a contemporary feel and a coastal story to tell.

The restorative power of time outdoors. The importance of the highest quality interiors. The personal, knowledgeable touch that ensures our guests feel cared for. The brand insight and lifestyle expertise that mean our owners see the returns they deserve. Our deep roots in hospitality manifests in the principles that guide us and the belief we all work towards – that true beach freedom comes when proximity, personality and hotel-standards of cleanliness and service meet.

The Watergate Bay Hotel

Watergate Bay Hotel

The hotel where it all began. A market leader with hotel accolades and awards from the likes of The Times, Telegraph, Top Hotels and Boutique Hotelier.
The mural at Seaspace aparthotel

SeaSpace

Cornwall’s first aparthotel located near Porth Beach just along the coast from Watergate Bay opened in 2024. Here design-led studios combine with community facilities such as Padel courts, gym, swimming pool, café and restaurant.

 
Another Place Hotel

Another Place

Away from the Bay, the launch of award-winning Another Place: The Lake in the Lake District and Another Place: The Machrie in Scotland further added to the insights and expertise we learnt from.
land&water products

land&water

Headed up by founder Pix and bottling the feeling of time spent at the coast, our partner brand creates ethical and natural bath and body products which are provided in many of our retreats.

Local expertise and national reach

Beach Retreats has grown from a local agency serving the bay and neighbouring villages of Porth and Mawgan Porth, to a Cornwall-wide agency and market leader. This has led to joining one of the UKs leading holiday letting agencies, Devon-based Travel Chapter in 2025. Beach Retreats now combines local and coastal expertise with national knowledge and resource, offering our guests and property owners the best of both worlds.

We continue to share an office with our founders, The Watergate Group, allowing us to share best practice. Our common interest is our desire to be an active and engaged part of our community and commit to making a positive impact for people and planet.

Another thing to know about our team is that we never sit still. Ambition runs deep here, with the desire to constantly seek out and offer better for our guests its driving momentum.

Browse our portfolio and discover the Beach Retreats approach to self-catering.

Contact us to find out more about becoming a Beach Retreats owner.