The seaside at Porthcawl just got more exciting after the brand new £1.5m Porthcawl Water Sports Centre was officially opened.
It's hoped the glass-fronted state-of-the-art building, which sits high above the beach overlooking Rest Bay, will help turn the town into a "leading coastal destination".
We got inside to check out the latest facilities at the sports centre, which officially opened on Friday, October 11.
Purpose-built for surfers, kayakers, canoeists and paddleboard fans, as well as cyclists and walkers, the centre is equipped with modern toilets, showers and changing rooms.
Porthcawl Surf School will use the new centre as a base to offer year round surf lessons and hire as well as stand-up paddle board lessons.
Hugh Murray, owner of Porthcawl Surf School, is optimistic about the potential for the centre to become one of the best in the UK.
Mr Murray said: “We’re hugely excited to be unveiling Rest Bay’s new water sports centre. We believe that Porthcawl is among the best outdoor adventure destinations in the UK and our new centre will help more people discover this, while also helping educate visitors on the importance of coastal conservation.”
It’s not just about watersports – the centre will have a fleet of 30 vehicles for hire, including mountain bikes, fat bikes, e-bikes, California cruisers and a beach wheelchair. Visitors will be able to join bike tours to points of interest throughout Porthcawl and Newton, as well as a tour based on the legends of Kenfig Dunes.
With panoramic views over the Bay, a first-floor cafe will also soon be up and running to complete the setup as well as an ice cream kiosk for a well-earned ice cream after all that activity.
The centre has been built thanks to £1.5m of EU funding via the Welsh Government’s Tourism Attractor Destination programme.
Opening the centre, Lord-Elis Thomas, deputy minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism at Bridgend Council , said: “I’m delighted to open this excellent new facility for the area.
“Our aim through the tourism attractor destination programme is to focus efforts and investment on key projects in each region so we have a real impact on Wales’ profile in this globally competitive market.
"In order to be a leading coastal destination, we need to ensure that we have exemplary facilities and services for residents and visitors, and I’m sure that this development will give people compelling reasons to visit the area and will benefit both visitors and locals.”
Council leader Huw David added: “Rest Bay has long held a reputation as a superb destination for tourists and watersport enthusiasts, and the new centre is going to provide a richer, better visitor experience.
"I am grateful to Welsh Government and Visit Wales for this investment of EU funding. It is a sign of confidence in Porthcawl as a visitor destination.”
