The owners of one of the UK's most iconic beaches, Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth in South Devon, have partnered with new operators to re-open their renowned eating establishment and implement a series of fresh and exciting changes over the next 12 months.

Geoffrey and Robert Newman have joined forces with Charlie and Zuzana Deuchar, owners of Dartmouth's multi-award winning boutique hotel Bayards Cove Inn, to provide a new takeaway venture and to help establish an exciting new Beach Shop and water sports outlet, then later in the year a new café, bar and lounge.

The new partnership has pledged to continue its commitment to sustainability, protecting this coveted stretch of coastline and caring for the environment with only consciously sourced food and drink available to purchase.

A new Blackpool Sands Beach Shack opened this month (January 2023) selling locally roasted coffee, cakes, pies and pasties and plenty of outdoor seating with views across the beach.

This Beach Shack will be replaced by a fully refurbished takeaway, which will open in April with an indoor seating area available to the public. Also scheduled for April is a new Beach Shop, with water sports available in May.

Throughout the summer a host of events will be staged including July's Tunes on the Sands Music Festival (Friday 21st & Saturday 22nd July 2023). During the latter part of the year a further overhaul will take place at the site in readiness for an incredible new space, which will be home to a new cafe, bar and lounge, planned for opening in March 2024.

Geoffrey Newman said: “This is a hugely exciting time for Blackpool Sands and we're delighted to have partnered with Charlie and Zuzana to increase our offering here, and to serve food made with the very best local ingredients sourced from land and sea.”

Blackpool Sands has been the recipient of a much-coveted Blue Flag award since 1988, with the exception of one year when huge storms swept much of the beach away. It has been in the Newman family since the 1700s when they were one of Dartmouth's most highly esteemed merchant traders.

In 1797, Richard Newman, a Dartmouth merchant trader, bought land at Blackpool, including the beach and surrounding land where subsequent Newman families continued to live, overlooking this beautiful bay.  

It wasn't until the late 1950's that Geoffrey's mother first made food available to the public when she opened a wooden hut selling teas and ice creams.

Geoffrey, a former soldier, adventurer and corporate filmmaker, has built on those beginnings, first opening a more permanent café in 1995, and through his involvement with the Marine Conversation Society weaved into the beach's growth plans a commitment to protect the marine environment while keeping that Mediterranean feel with stately pines and evergreen trees hugging the clifftops.

He said: “Our new venture will continue to support our mission to keep the beach as natural and perfect as possible, and we want everyone to continue enjoying the beach in the same way we did as children.

“We remain absolutely committed to continuing our strong stance on sustainability, and to provide opportunities for ongoing education such as our rock pool rambles, beach cleans and sea awareness courses with local schools and communities.

“Our new food offering will be wholly plastic and glass free and we have so many exciting new measures that will be put in place to really encourage the public to think about their own impact on the planet.”

Charlie and Zuzana added: “We're over the moon to be part of this exciting new phase at Blackpool Sands. Sustainability, food sourcing, the environment and the local community are at the heart of our ethos. Blackpool Sands will be a place where the impact of everything we do to the environment will be carefully considered so that we have a place that's kind to nature but where people can come and have a wonderful time, while eating incredible food.

The new Blackpool Sands Beach Shack is open daily from 9am until 4.30pm.

To find out more visit www.blackpoolsands.co.uk or to stay up-to-date follow Blackpool Sands on Facebook and Blackpool Sands Devon on Instagram.

ENDS

For further information or to request an interview with Geoffrey and Robert Newman or Charlie and Zuzana Deuchar please contact Lucy Johnson 07866497976 / lucy@rawfoodanddrinkpr.co.uk 

About Blackpool Sands

To find Blackpool Sands, from Dartmouth follow the A379. Blackpool Sands is just south of Dartmouth between Stoke Fleming and Strete.

Blackpool Sands is on the south coast of Devon. It is privately owned by the Newman family and has kept its standards high, making it one of the most popular family beaches in the region. It is a crescent of coarse golden sand and shingle, approximately 650 metres wide, set in a sheltered bay amongst evergreens and pines in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is surrounded by steeply rising fields and woods, and there is a stream that enters the sea at the southern end of the beach.

It is also on the South West Coast Path, and so is the ideal place to start or finish a walk along this beautiful stretch of South Devon coastline.

Blackpool Sands is a Blue Flag award-winning beach. The waters at Blackpool Sands are unusually clear and are tested regularly by the Environment Agency to confirm their cleanliness.

Blackpool Sands is a long standing member of a not for profit organisation, the Devon Association of Tourist Attractions (DATA) representing Devon's Top Attractions. Members are regularly inspected to meet rigorous criteria and quality standards. This ensures that visitors experience quality in terms of venue, facilities, content, service and value for money. Devon's Top Attractions continue to work together to raise and maintain the standard of Devon tourist attractions.

Blackpool Sands has teamed up with the 2 Minute Foundation, a charity who, with the help of people and passion are devoted to cleaning up our planet for a better world. The beach has become part of its network of over 1000 clean up Stations. These new 2 Minute Marine Stations are made entirely from the low grade 'destined for landfill' plastics found on Beach Cleans. They include 4 litter pickers made from recycled aluminium and fishing nets and 10 cleanup bags up-cycled from broken and discarded festival tents. They are a great conversation starter and raise awareness of litter and plastic pollution by giving everyone the tools they need to do their bit to help keep beaches clean. 

The following facilities are available:

• Superb swimming in clean, clear water tested by the Environment Agency
• Beach cleaned daily in main season
• Showers
• Toilets
• Disabled facilities
• Sand pits during summer months
• Seasonal events
• RNLI Lifeguards on duty during summer months
• Beach information line – 01803 771800

To comply with Blue Flag requirements and by popular demand dogs are not permitted on the beach or in the café or car parks during the bathing season; 1st April – 30th September 2023.