Who are Colin and Julie, owners of the Beach House?

We first saw the Beach House during the early part of 2000 and already had a little cottage in the village which Colin had bought originally in …. so we knew Port Isaac really well. A builder friend mentioned that the house, which was then run as a hotel and called “St Andrews” was up for sale. He warned us that a lot of work needed doing on it!

We wandered along The Terrace one afternoon for tea and sat in the old conservatory. It was difficult to see the view because of the shape of the windows and the net curtains but we could definitely see the potential. The house was enormous and the views right across to Tintagel Head were to die for.

Then we had the survey done. There was absolutely nothing that didn’t need gutting or replacing apart from the roof and the rendering.

We went ahead and pulled down all the pre-fabricated and dilapidated outbuildings at the rear and knocked rooms into one another to create spacious living accommodation downstairs and en-suite bathrooms upstairs.

Colin, who is a professional photographer, lived in the house and worked on it with a Port Isaac building team during the renovations. What a hero! It was all finished by 2002 although we are constantly upgrading and decorating so that the house stays comfortable and welcoming.

We absolutely adore Port Isaac. Although we live just outside Bath (where Julie runs her own solicitors practice), we spend a lot of time there. Port Isaac has the most lively and welcoming community which means we just can’t wait to arrive and see all our mates.

Anyone who has been there knows how breathtaking the coastal views are and how clear the sea is when the sun shines – so clear you can see the dolphins!

There are two gorgeous harbour beaches – one at Port Isaac and the other at Port Gaverne just around the bay. There are lovely places to eat and masses of fresh seafood brought in by the Port Isaac fishermen every day. You can even buy your own from the fish cellars and have fresh crab sandwiches on the sun terrace at the Beach House looking out to sea, or pop across to the Beach House chablis balcony and watch the boats going in and out of Port Gaverne.

Please take the time to browse through our website and absorb the wonders of Port Isaac and North Cornwall through the lens of a photographer forever captivated by the sheer beauty of the Cornish coast.

The owners of the Beach House