AMBITIOUS plans are in full swing to revive Newquay’s iconic New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Newquay BID has a five-year plan to rebuild the celebrations as a major annual highlight to boost footfall, support businesses and celebrate the community.

The organisation is launching The Great Newquay Pub Fancy Dress Competition to kick-start the revival. Bars, pubs, restaurants and venues are invited to choose any theme from 80s retro to movie icons. They will also support family-friendly early-evening celebrations and encourage town-wide participation.

Newquay BID has worked extensively during the run up to New Year with Devon & Cornwall Police, including Inspector Steve Johnson, to ensure strong safety measures are in place.

Key initiatives include increased police presence during peak weekends, the Newquay Rangers programme, ShopWatch and PubWatch radios while body-worn cameras will be available to staff where needed.

Newquay BID is exploring ways to integrate its forthcoming loyalty card app to create New Year’s Eve venue trails, promotions and themed experiences as part of its long-term vision for the event to “cement Newquay as Cornwall’s leading New Year’s Eve destination.”

Mark Warren, the manager of Newquay BID, said: “For decades, Newquay’s New Year’s Eve was known for its electric atmosphere: the whole town in fancy dress, music filling the streets, family-friendly early-evening celebrations, and a vibrant nightlife that brought communities together from across the county. Now, Newquay BID aims to bring that spirit back, stronger than ever.

“As part of its new five-year term, Newquay BID is committing to a long-term strategy to rebuild New Year’s Eve as a major annual highlight — boosting footfall, supporting businesses, and celebrating the community.

“Importantly, this revival is not about returning to the “old party town” stereotype. Newquay today is a thriving, modern, family-friendly destination with a strong daytime offer and a safe, well-managed nighttime economy. The aim is to enhance both sides of the town’s identity.”

Mr Warren says businesses have already shown enthusiasm for the idea.

He said: “Recent meetings with Newquay’s nighttime economy show strong enthusiasm from local venues. Sailors has already announced a major themed New Year’s Eve event with extensive fancy dress.

“The Central has expressed huge excitement, recalling the incredible atmosphere that once filled Central Square at midnight, fireworks, crowds, and music spilling into the streets.

“This early momentum demonstrates a genuine appetite among business owners to work together on recreating a memorable New Year’s Eve for locals and visitors.

“Newquay BID is encouraging venues to collaborate on joint themes, shared entertainment and town-wide creative ideas from live bands and themed parties, to silent discos, foam parties, and coordinated fancy dress.

“Newquay BID invites residents, visitors and returning holidaymakers to embrace the tradition, dress up, celebrate safely and help restore the unique New Year’s Eve atmosphere the town has always been known for.

“Newquay has changed in many positive ways since the pre-Covid years.

“We’re not trying to turn the clock back. We’re creating a New Year’s Eve that’s exciting, family-friendly, vibrant, safe and uniquely Newquay. This is just the beginning of a long-term plan to make Newquay the New Year’s Eve capital of Cornwall once again.”