Rocklands nears completion

I went to visit Rocklands in Newquay last week and was once again blown away by the views - these have to be the best views in Newquay bar none. It's nearly ready to go with the firsts guests staying at the end of the month. They won't be disappointed. The location is close to the heart of town and the building towers over Tolcarne Beach. The apartments with balconies overlooking the beach have an amazing vista. The communal roof garden has a hot tub and loungers - in the height of summer this will be a great place to feel as though you are really in the heart of things, yet on a different level. Rocklands Newquay

BBC article on the budget tax changes

The proposed changes to the positive tax position on holiday lets is not good news for holiday home owners.

South West agencies are lobbying to get this proposal overturned.

Read the BBC article on the potential impact on the self catering holiday market

Second home owners feeling the pinch

The Times has an article on how second home owners, feeling pressure from redundancy and investment losses are looking to rent out homes. This will increase the supply but hopefully demand will keep up!

Read the Times article

Some estate agent hope

I've spoken to a few agents over the last few days to sound out the market. They were surprisingly upbeat. Whilst offices have been cutting back to skeleton staff levels vendors have become more realistic on prices and sales are starting to come through. One agent in Bude has had 10 sales during January and February which must be outperforming the UK market by some way. Things have been bad and it's going to be a tough year - and no one thinks prices have hit the bottom - but low expected savings and stock market returns are tempting investors back to the holiday property market.

Out and about in Bude

I popped up to North Cornwall on Monday. The weather was good and the estate agents I spoke to were surprisingly upbeat - things are ticking over with sellers more pragmatic on pricing.

In Bude the Strand Hotel is coming up for development and just south of Bude is Widemouth Bay. This is one of the area's most popular surfing beaches and you can see why. There is a fine new development here called Marine Drive. The developer has just reduced asking prices and the properties are available through Webbers.

Happy New Year news

Travelsupermarket has announced that searches on its site for UK cottage holidays are up 27%.

Read article

Hoseasons report boost to holidays in UK

"Hoseasons, the UK’s biggest self-catering holiday operator, says bookings are up 15 per cent on this time last year Cottages, farmhouses and lodges in Dorset, the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire Dales are all booking well. Cornwall and parts of Scotland are not as popular, because they are a long distance from major areas of population."

Read full article

Whilst it emphasizes that areas close to the major centres are benefitting, it doesn't say whether bookings for Cornwall or Scotland are down or flat compared to this year.

Holidays 'last thing people will give up'

Holidays ‘last thing people will give up’

Holidays still remain a high priority for people despite the current financial turmoil, a new study shows.

More than half (59%) said that even if they had to cut back on spending, their main annual holiday would be the last thing they would give up.

Eighty two per cent of the 2,000 Thomas and First Choice holidaymakers asked said their annual holiday was not a luxury but an important event in the year.

And 88% would not choose holidays as primary area to cut spending.

READ FULL ARTICLE

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Obviously First Choice and Thomas Cook have a vested interest in good news from such a survey but the message is positive.

Newquay rolls on

Today I went to the launch of Tourism Newquay, the new destination marketing organisation.

The guys have put together a great site - Visit Newquay - and I really hope that local businesses get behind them.

Newquay needs very good marketing. It's a great town but the season is short. Even when the weather is good, as it was today, the town is very quiet. Newquay needs quality facilities to convince punters that the stunning scenery and exciting activities on offer are worth sacrificing 25 degree heat for.



The Rocklands development in Newquay nears completion. It looks fabulous - something very special. We have signed up 3 of the apartments and are hoping for more. It will certainly raise the game in the quality of accommodation on offer in the town. Let's hope Acorn's developments can match the new level.

There will be a Pizza Express on the ground floor - let's hope they will do takeaways for evenings in!

Newquay Airport closed for 3 weeks

Due to handover issues the airport is going to be closed for 3 weeks. This is a real shame and could affect last minute pre-Xmas breaks.

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