Porth is a common Welsh element meaning "harbour" and the cawl here refers to "sea kale", which may have grown in profusion or even been collected here.

[4][5] Porthcawl, like many British resorts, has suffered a decline in its holiday trade, especially since most of the South Wales Valleys coal pits closed.

The singer, actor and civil rights activist Paul Robeson once performed 'live' at the Pavilion via a transatlantic telephone link.

Controversial luxury flats now dominate the seafront on the site previously occupied by the Esplanade Hotel, which dated back to the late 1880s.

[8] Cosy Corner is a park area, which over the years has housed a theatre, cinema, roller skating rink and ballroom.

The building was identified as a potentially important facility as part of the Porthcawl Regeneration Strategy; it houses three hospitality businesses.

The historic ships the PS Waverley, the last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, and the MV Balmoral sail from this area during the summer months.

Porthcawl Comprehensive School, on the western side of the town, has 1,500 pupils (aged 11–18) and 80 teaching staff.

The school provides preparatory, secondary and tertiary education leading to GCSE and A-level qualifications.

The school was built and opened for teaching in 1971 and has since been extended to incorporate the growing needs of the surrounding area and community.

The following festivals operate in the town: Porthcawl is one of the top locations in Wales for surfing, with both national and regional competitions held at Rest Bay.

It starts on the Lower Promenade in front of the Grand Pavilion, heads out to Rest Bay and finishes near to the pier.

The Planning Guidance outlines proposals that will result in the comprehensive regeneration of Porthcawl's waterfront, stretching from Cosy Corner and the harbour in the south, to Trecco Bay in the east.

The plan includes the construction of new sea defences, enabling regeneration of the area to take place, and also protecting more than 440 existing properties from flood risk.

The scheme is envisaged to include a new foodstore, extra retail space, leisure and community facilities, up to 450 houses/flats, a new promenade, town square and car parking.

Transport for Wales operates services to Cardiff Central, Swansea, Carmarthen and Manchester Piccadilly.

[35] First Cymru and Stagecoach South Wales operate local bus routes, which include:[36] The A4229 road links the town to junction 37 of the M4 motorway.