On 14th July 2007, The Guardian newspaper named the Cornish culture capital, St Ives, as its seaside town of the year. A star-studded panel of judges, including Bill Bryson, Rick Stein and John Betjeman's daughter, Candida Lycett Green, came to the decision after debating the pros and cons of 12 shortlisted coastal towns and cities from across Britain and Ireland.

Stein, known worldwide as the patron of Padstow but who has been going to St Ives since his childhood, was one of many keen advocates of the town.

"The thing I really love about St Ives is that it is on two beaches, so you get two aspects of the ocean, which makes it very romantic and quite unusual for a British resort. I think of it as the big brother of Padstow."

St Ives also scored heavily for its rugged views, exhilarating clifftop walks, the good surf at Porthmeor Beach and, of course, its cultural offerings, with judges keen to note its burgeoning new art talent as well as the Tate Gallery (specialising in modern Cornish art) and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Panel member Alastair Sawday declared, "I have a special love for St Ives...it has everything a seaside town needs". He went on to commend balmy beaches, great surf, fantastic fish, superb coastal walks and an infectious convivial buzz.

Some lesser-known delights of St Ives that came up during the judging process include the regular appearances of basking sharks and seals, the delightful branch line railway link to St Erth, the delicious fish-and-chip takeaway downstairs at the Porthminster Café, and the curious tradition of "silver ball hurling" - during which a silver ball is thrown through the streets by children on Feast Monday in February.

To view the Guardian's original article, or their interactive online guide - click here and then click on the blue dot that indicates where St. Ives is.

One of the judges and an assistant editor of the Guardian, Michael White, has an enduring love of the town. Click here to find out why he thinks it’s a worthy winner of the Guardian's seaside town of the year.