Looe's Star Power: BBC Drama Puts Town on the Map
When the BBC drama Beyond Paradise landed on screens, no one in Looe expected just how quickly the cameras would start rolling off-screen, too. The show’s scenic shots of Cornwall’s coastline did more than set the mood—they put this charming town right in the crosshairs of curious tourists. Suddenly, everyone wanted a slice of the seaside magic they'd watched on TV. Local shops, cafes, and gift stores noticed the difference overnight.
Take a stroll through Looe now and you'll see streets full of visitors, most clutching pasties or cameras, soaking up the sights they've seen on-screen. Councillor Armand Toms has watched the change happen in real time. 'We've gone from empty premises to a bustling collection of indy shops and restaurants,' he says. Vacancy signs are almost a thing of the past. Owners like Jamie Pearn, one of the town's younger councillors, see the boom as a chance to bring the Looe Chamber of Commerce back to life—helping locals hold their own with ideas for tourism that fit the community.
The Double-Edged Sword: From Fishing to Housing Jams
This newfound fame is a mixed bag, though. Alongside bustling trade and happy shop owners come problems that weren't as visible before. Housing has quickly become the hottest—and prickliest—topic in town. In 2018, only about 45 people needed help finding a place to live through Cornwall’s Homechoice Register. Now, the number is well over 220, and it keeps climbing. Families are feeling squeezed, and finding an affordable spot to call home in Looe is starting to feel more like winning the lottery than a simple search.
It’s not all about the show. The old heart of Looe—the fishing fleet—has shrunk, making room for a different kind of industry. Paul Welshman, who runs the Knottershop, has watched the transition first-hand. “We’re more café and gift shop now than nets and boats,” he admits, a little wistfully. But even as fishing slips away, one quirky pastime is hauling in plenty of visitors: shark angling. Once a niche hobby, it’s now a headline activity for thrill-seeking tourists hoping to tell their friends back home about the one that got away.
Even everyday basics have had to evolve. The number of bank branches has shrunk, so Looe relies on a central post office for all-important banking and a mobile service that sets up shop once a week. Not ideal, but people are making it work because, at the end of the day, they want to stay—including the next generation.
To keep young locals engaged and offer something beyond souvenir shopping or ice cream cones, the town has launched initiatives like free sailing and gig rowing for teens. It’s a way to make sure that Looe doesn’t just grow for visitors, but for the people who call it home. Despite the balancing act of tourism-fueled excitement and growing pains, Looe’s charm is undeniable. For now, it’s Cornwall’s rising star—just with a few more cars trying to park near the beach.
