A FAMILY in Cornwall are celebrating their pub's 50 years in business this month and have thanked all those who have supported them through the years.
Often dubbed as ‘the Pub with the best view in the World,' The Bowgie Inn sits proudly upon West Pentire Point - a cliff-top location in Crantock, Newquay - and is celebrating 50 years in business this year.
"To me, it’s like a big house, where everyone comes and goes," says owner Andy, "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 - cementing its status as a local landmark. Andy's parents, especially his father Stan, went from being customers to proud supporters of their son, the landlord.
Andy reminisced: "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 80’s saw the Bowgie leading the way with House music, as well as Friday night grunge nights, with big-name DJ’s, including DJ Sasha and Mpeople who traveled all the way from Manchester. "People would travel for miles for a night at the Bowgie as they could guarantee it would always be a night to remember, it really was the place to be!"
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 the team identified special events as the way forward.
"We started doing weddings, civil ceremonies, live sports events," said Andy, "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."
Never losing focus on its customers and keeping the Bowgie spirit alive, the pub continued to evolve with the times. In the new millennium, it was all about renewable energy and embracing eco-conscious new technology, which led to a major refurbishment.
Sally Pickles, who led the refurb, said: "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."
With daughter Tish Pickles starting to take a stronger hold of the reins, the Bowgie only plans to reinvent itself further, whilst staying true to the historic features the family has retained wherever possible in the former cowshed building - the word Bowgie is actually Cornish for ‘cowshed’.
Sally said: "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 added: "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."
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