Porthcawl is split into three main parts, Newton village, Nottage village and the town centre in the middle. Both Newton and Nottage are traditional villages and have been around far longer than the town centre, with Nottage dating back to Viking times, and Newton being established in the 12th Century.

Newton Church

Until the harbour was established in the town in 1825, Newton had the only port on the coastline between Aberthaw and Briton Ferry. The villagers took full advantage of the many ships that were wrecked on the rocks in the bay. Once the harbour in town was established, Newton reveted to being a quiet little village.

In 1818 the Jolly Sailor was established, as the first pub in the parish, more information about the early days of the pub can be seen in the smugglers section.

When the harbour was established in 1825, a busy town grew up around it, and Porthcawl town centre was formed. Today it is a popular seaside resort, and can cater for people of all generations. It has a fair ground to give some excitement, along with numerous beaches, the most popular being Rest Bay. Rest bay also has the Royal Porthcawl golf course nearby.

Porthcawl is a popular resort with surfers, and gets a good amount of surf during the winter months. The most consistent beach to get a good amount of surf is Rest Bay, but is also the busiest.

The town is undergoing a large improvement programme which has been running for some time. The promenade and the main street have already been made more accessible. Many historic buildings are now being refurbished and there is a range of attractions planned for the near future.