The Island St Ives ⋆ Jabula Stretch Tents

The Island is not really an island at all, but a small, grassy peninsula connected to the mainland by a narrow isthmus. It's a focal point of St Ives with lovely walks all around and it provides a lot of protection for the harbour.

It offers stunning 360 degree views over St Ives town, Porthmeor beach, Porthgwidden beach and a wide expanse of sea inbetween. In the summertime, you can watch both the sunrise and sunset over the sea from the Island. It is well used by migratory birds, so is popular with bird watchers and you will often see dolphins and seals playing in the bay.

The Island chapel hosts many wedding blessings and small receptions can be held in the historic and iconic Battery building.

The inside space has all the facilities needed, a kitchen space and two rooms that can be used for dining, dancing or bar and an outside toilet.

We can provide a stretch tent to go alongside the Battery building when more undercover space is needed.

The Island Buildings

Originally called ‘Pendinas’, which means ‘fortified headland’. It was once was a promontory fort with a protective ditch and rampart and is home to three historic sites.

The Coastguard lookout house, next to the now disused granite battery constructed in 1860 in case of invasion by the French. Originally operated by the Coastguard it closed in 1994 and was reopened by the National Coastwatch, a voluntary organisation, that safeguards the lives of those at sea.

The Chapel of St Nicholas, one of many in Cornwall dedicated to seafarers, dates back to the fifteenth century. The present building was restored in 1911 and features floor tiles depicting fishing scenes created by the famous St Ives potter, Bernard Leach. It was used by Preventative Men in the days of smuggling. In the old days a fire, called a pharos, would be lit at night on The Island to warn ships of danger and guide them safely to the harbour. In spite of this disaster was commonplace, and the remains of one wreck, the SS Alba, are still visible at low tide. The tiny chapel, which also commands spectacular views across St Ives Bay is often used for wedding ceremonies and blessings.

The Battery Building was built in 1860 to house the St Ives Volunteer Artillery Company, it was subsequently used over the years as a military blockhouse, a barracks, a coastguard look-out, during both World Wars, as an Admiralty semaphore and signal station, an artists studio and more recently as a Surf House, run by Tassy Swallow, a professional surfer from St Ives. She raised the money to renovate the Battery Barracks on the Island at St Ives as a base for Surf Ratz, a girls surf club, a surf education project and a community space for hire. The building has since reverted to the Town Council for wedding hire only.

Contact St Ives Town Council if you're interesting in booking the chapel or the Battery Building

Get advice from wedding planner Natalie Blake Wedding Design about weddings on the Island Tel: 07814406350

Book Porthgwidden Cafe for your wedding dinner and beach party.

We've previously put up stretch tents on the Island for a couple weddings, a ceremony and a few Island Discos.