Acting on behalf of Cornwall Council we ran a process to find a new operator for Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre near St Austell. Situated at Castle Gotha the main site comprised a camping field with 24x 6 person pitches and 12x camping pods, with reception, canteen, classroom and break out areas, high ropes and activity barn with climbing walls and caving system, all overlooking the coastline within 3.6 acres. The process involved a timed marketing campaign to seek all interest and lease bids in order to secure the long-term core business, that of providing affordable outdoor activities for children. The business included the commercial rights to the Porthpean beach and there was significant interest from existing operators and this culminated in a considerable number of proposals being put forward for review. From these the front runner was First Wave Adventures who already run an outdoor centre from Great Western Beach at Newquay.
Mark Turner, General Manager at First Wave Adventures said: “We are very proud to take on the operation of Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre and to finally have the keys in hand! We are excited about evolving and expanding the current offering to ensure schools and the wider community can access the very best outdoor education experience, here in this wonderful part of the county. As a Cornish company, we are passionate about supporting local schools and offering the teachers and children an incredible experience they will never forget. Plans are in place to get the venue up and operational as soon as possible in 2023 and bookings for school groups will be available as before, along with the other facilities run from the site and the beach below.”
This collaborative approach has provided a great result for all concerned.
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