Talking up Torquay

Torquay is a lively place in a beautiful location. So why don’t we shout about it more? CHRISSY HARRIS explains why it’s time to take this English Riviera town more seriously

- CHRISSY HARRIS

Not long after we moved to Torquay, I overheard two tourists chatting as they walked along the palm tree-lined seafront: “I tell you what, if you squint yer eyes a bit, you could be in Barcelona!” I smiled to myself. Torquay is obviously nothing like Barcelona.

Five years later, however, and I’m not so sure. We’ve definitely got all the ingredients here – sun, sea, beautiful sandy beaches, pavement cafés for people-watching, palm trees, a microclimate and a holiday atmosphere. With squinted eyes this could be the Spanish coast.

So why has it had such a rough time over the years? Once the playground of the Victorian gentry, Torquay has been through its fair share of boom and bust. The growth of foreign travel, reliance on seasonal trade plus a lack of industry and investment means, like many other coastal communities, the area has suffered from economic and social deprivation. In fact, the three towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, which make up Torbay, are ranked the most deprived local authority in the South West.

The problems in this seaside resort town are real but now so is the desire for change. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve seen some bright glimmers of hope that make me think Torquay could be about to shine again.