Northshore Surf Shop Marks 45 Years in Newquay

From a Holiday to a Lifelong Business

Back in 1980, a 16-year-old named Aggsy Baird made an 18-hour journey on an SX200 scooter to Newquay. It was supposed to be a holiday, but it ended up changing the course of his life. Fast forward to June 2025, and Aggsy is celebrating 45 years of business in the town he never left.

Aggsy sat above his shop, Northshore, on Fore Street, alongside his long-time colleague and “right-hand person,” Eleanor Dixon. Eleanor, who started working at the shop in 2001, laughed as they remembered the early days of the business and all the stages in between.

It all began when Aggsy was offered a small shop attached to the Upper and Lower Deck restaurant on Fore Street. He knew exactly who he wanted to start this new venture with: his best friend John Midgley, who was working at Smile Surf Shop at the time. The pair opened their first shop, Sunny Days, later that year.

A Business Built on Friendship and Family

The business grew quickly, moving through five different premises over the years. Today, Northshore Surf Shop operates from 36 Fore Street, a building John and Aggsy bought freehold in 1986. Aggsy still has the original estate agent paperwork tucked away in his desk drawer.

Aggsy’s grandson, Beau, now works in the shop and remembers visiting as a child. As a keen surfer himself, it felt natural for him to join the team. Eleanor joked that most people who’ve worked at Northshore either walked in off the street or are part of the family.

Jonny Colaco, another long-standing team member, was brought in by John years ago. He describes working at Northshore not as a job but as a “second home and family” — a sentiment Eleanor shared.

Legacy on Fore Street

The pair also bought 32 Fore Street, where they built the current premises for Northshore Girls. After John’s passing three years ago, the shop was renamed Sunny Days in tribute to the very first business the two friends started together. It’s now owned and run by John’s family.

Reflecting on the shop’s impact on the local community, Aggsy said:

“Without local kids surfing, there isn’t a future surf community. Those kids’ parents have been in here — generations of local surfers have shopped here.”

Northshore has sponsored Newquay Boardriders for the past three years and continues to serve as a key part of the town’s surf scene.

Limited Edition T-shirts Available Now

To mark the 45-year milestone, Northshore has launched a line of limited edition T-shirts. They’re available both in-store and online now.

So why not pop into the shop at 36 Fore Street and experience a slice of Newquay’s surf history for yourself?