Torquay trashed by Telegraph

Newspaper only likes posh bits

A national newspaper has laid into a Devon seaside town, disparaging some of its central attractions, but approving of the wealthier parts.

The Daily Telegraph describes parts of Torquay as "hideous" and "ruinous", but is more generous about £12 million apartment blocks and the yachts in the marina.

Rating the town an underpowered 33 out of 100, the Telegraph says: "Devon’s most famous seaside town is like Rio de Janeiro in one respect only – it’s home to all shades of wealth, sloping round the streets side by side but never eyeing one another.

"We have the Michelin-starred Elephant; a branch of posh chippy Rockfish and the similarly delicious Saltwater; a fascinating local museum, the stylish £12 million Abbey Sands apartment and restaurant building (chains, admittedly), and a marina with impressive motor yachts.

"And yet, we also have a hideous clutch of shopping streets off the harbour, the ruinous Pavilion Theatre building, a dozen unprepossessing pubs (the ’Spoons is the liveliest), depressing “night spots” and hotels and guesthouses that require refurbs that would cost more than demolition and a newbuild. Perhaps most tellingly of all, Mr Fawlty has not chosen to return to Torquay for his latest venture, but the Caribbean instead."

Torquay is in Torquay's list of classic resorts in which the paper has "studied how they have adapted – or not – over the past three decades, looking at factors such as housing and high streets, renovations and conservation, as well as the cultural clout that so often accompanies gentrification."