In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Newquay was once attracting thousands of clubbers, stag and hen parties with nightlife being compared to that of Ibiza. Whilst the night venues battled it out to get as many through their doors as possible, it was a different story for many local residents and business owners who suffered night after night of men in mankinis and hen parties stripping in the street with the emergency services being called to pick up the pieces. The Daily Mail has now reported that Newquay is a 'ghost town' but we know of many club nights which are going from strength to strength thanks to the dedication of local DJs. Newquay is open!

In 2009 a group of local residents, property and business owners launched a campaign to clean up Newquay's image and bring the resort town back to where families could also enjoy.

With it's stunning beaches, cheap surf lodges and hotels, lax rules and more than ten nightclubs to choose from, Newquay was a magnet for clubbers from all over Britain. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it was a place where youngsters flocked to party the summer away at clubs like Tall Trees, Fosters, Disco 5000, Steamers, The Beach, Berties, Sailors, Koola and Red Square.

But in the past ten years, things have gradually changed after locals complained about rowdy behaviour. In 2009, two clubbers died after falling from cliffs, when about 10,000 teenagers visited the town in July for post-exams holidays. The tragedies led police to warn youngsters to stay away from the cliffs, specially if they had been drinking.

The following year, more than 20 'drunk and incapable' under-age holiday makers were sent home from the resort. There was a drive to make the resort more family-friendly by cracking down on obscene fancy dress, fake ID and street drinking.

The Newquay Safe campaign , in which the police has joined forces with residents, councils and businesses, was extended in 2012 and a zero-tolerance approach was adopted.

Alex Simms-Rosser, who moved to Newquay in early 2016 to manage Salt, said he's sure more nightclubs will close in Newquay in the not too distant future thanks to the efforts to make the seaside resort more genteel.

'This year I'm pretty sure there will be less choice with a good few establishments closing under the pressure of a terrible summer trade. The council and police have made provisions over the past four or five years to crush the party scene.'

With large cutbacks and fewer police on the streets, they have opted to put into place no-nonsense strategies that make it less desirable to come to Newquay on any sort of booze-style party holiday - a scene that Newquay was famous for and that kept its economy going for many years.

'The daytime in Newquay is now thriving with hundreds of families flocking back to the streets, which is totally the wrong demographic for the nightlife.

'The town can no longer support the four nightclubs that are here - there simply isn't enough to go around.'

He also said young people today are more keen to spend their money on festivals rather than club nights.

'Festivals truly are the new club scene' he said.

'It was at its worst last summer on Boardmasters weekend. In previous years, you had a good influx of post-festival clubgoers filtering into town for the after parties.

'Last year, due to the extended licence granted to the festival, an otherwise buzzing Newquay was an absolute ghost town.

'The town can no longer support the four nightclubs that are here - there simply isn't enough to go around.'

We would argue that in 2019 Newquay has cleaned up it's act and is now much more of a rounded resort which daytime and nights out can be enjoyed simultaneously.