45 Years of Newquay’s “Sunny Days”

Tucked above Fore Street with sweeping views of the Atlantic and generations of stories in its walls, the office above Northshore Surf Shop is where we found the legendary Aggsy Baird — now in his 70s but still full of the same spark that brought him to Newquay when he was 16.

Joined by his long-time sidekick, Eleanor Dixon, who’s been part of the crew since 2001, Aggsy is marking an incredible 45 years of trading in Newquay’s surf scene this month.

It all began with a scooter, a dream, and one very long road trip. At just 16 years old, Aggsy rode an SX200 scooter for 18 hours straight to get to Newquay — long before comfy motorways or sat navs. He moved down a couple of years later and became part of the tight-knit local community (a vibe that still thrives in town today), which lead to him being offered a shop space attached to a restaurant called Upper and Lower Deck on Fore Street.

Knowing exactly who he wanted to team up with, Aggsy popped into Smile Surf Shop to find his mate John Midgley, and together they launched their first store. After some time trading next to Upper and Lower Deck, the pair opened their shop Sunny Days, in 1980, in what is today’s Pavillion Bakery. It was a few years later that Northshore first hit Fore Street, and it still stands there today, with Sunny Days just next door!

From humble beginnings to five different locations, the shops have ridden the wave of Newquay’s surf boom. There’s even a drawer full of original estate agent paperwork from the 80s (yes, really!) that John meticulously kept — a tribute to how much love and care was taken in every step of the journey.

Now based at 36 Fore Street, Northshore has become more than a surf shop — it’s a local institution. Staff over the years have mostly been family, lifelong friends, or folks like Eleanor who just wandered in one day and never left. Local surfer Beau, Aggsy’s grandson, grew up visiting the shop and now helps keep the family legacy alive.

Longtime team member Jonny Colaco, who was scouted by John himself, put it best: “It’s not a job — it’s a second home.”

And the story doesn’t end there. After buying 32 Fore Street, John and Aggsy built Northshore Girls— after John’s passing, this returned to the original name that started it all, Sunny Days, and is now run by John’s family.

Over the years, Northshore has watched Newquay grow, wave after wave. “Without local kids surfing, there isn’t a future surf community,” Aggsy said, explaining why they’ve been proud sponsors of Newquay Boardriders for the past three years. “Those kids’ parents shopped here. Their grandparents did too.”

To mark this amazing milestone, Northshore has released a limited edition line of T-shirts — celebrating 45 years of surf culture, friendship, and Newquay spirit.

So next time you’re wandering Fore Street, pop into Northshore and Sunny Days. Whether you’re a local grommet or just passing through on holiday, you’ll be stepping into a living piece of Newquay’s surf history.