BOARDMASTERS has purchased the beach bar at Fistral as part of its plans to bring more action back to the home of the surf and music festival.

The Boardmasters Beach Bar, which was formally known as the Fistral Beach Bar, will be open throughout the year as well as being a permanent home for the festival.

The new-look bar will be upgraded with refreshed interiors.

The expansion of Boardmasters programming at Fistral Beach, which will be held between August 6 and 10, includes expanding the Fistral Village to offer a wider selection of food and retail concessions.

Boardmasters will also be bringing the much-loved skate ramp back to The Headland following huge demand.

The new focus on Fistral Beach for Boardmasters follows residents stating in their festival feedback that they would like to see a return of more activities being staged there.

Boardmasters founder Andrew Topham says the takeover of the beach bar will open more avenues for the festival to further support and collaborate with the community on a year-round basis.

Andrew said: “It goes without saying, we are incredibly excited to announce the latest developments at Fistral Beach.

“This is the place where the festival was born, and where many early memories and epic moments from the Boardmasters surf competitions were made.

“I know I speak on behalf of the entire team when I say this site is very close to our hearts, and the collective passion of our team is what has brought this latest vision to life.

“Even more action-packed sports during the festival, opportunities for meaningful partnerships which benefit the entire surf ecosystem, and of course the newly named Boardmasters Beach Bar, which we’ll have more to tell you about very soon.”

Mayor Drew Creek added: “The investment Boardmasters are making at Fistral with the reinvigoration and renovations to the beloved Beach Bar are highly welcome.

“Their plans for the site during and after the season will significantly contribute to the local economy and enhance the cultural aspect of Newquay.

“As mayor of Newquay, who is also a long-time avid fan of Boardmasters Surf Festival, I am thrilled to witness the Fistral site returning to its roots with more local vendors, the restoration of the raised grassy area, and the reintroduction of a skate ramp this year.

“Newquay, the self-proclaimed board-riding capital of the UK, will be celebrating all aspects of this celebrated event this summer, making it a monumental moment for our town in 2025.”

Boardmasters will be welcoming Rising Tide to Fistral Beach this summer, the latest partnership which supports the festival's commitment to sustainability and both the local and UK surf community.

Rising Tide, a grassroots gathering led by Danny Jenks and Matt Rogers of Echo Surf Supply, along with Kieran Hill from Waterhaul, has been showcasing sustainable wave riding crafts, apparel, accessories and conservation organisations at The Headland during previous Boardmasters.

This year, they will become an integral part of the festival, featuring a dedicated area with local board shapers and surf brands.

Rising Tide will also program a series of talks and workshops in a new stretch tent on The Headland, focusing on surfing and sustainability with an overarching ocean positive message.

Rising Tide said: “Through this new partnership, we’re really hyped that Boardmasters is recognising the importance of the themes around Rising Tide and the positive impact it had on the local community in 2024.

“Together with Boardmasters, we're demonstrating a commitment to further enhancing the offer at Fistral beach during the Boardmasters festival and support the festival’s dedication to giving a louder voice to ocean positive messages and organisations.”