Grand Hotel

Aptly named, The Grand Hotel in Torquay offers old world grandeur and traditional British charm, grandly standing on the sea front in one of Devon’s most popular resorts for over 130 years. The Grand truly is Torquay’s landmark hotel and has links to the second world war, Britain’s best crime writer and the Rolling Stones, making it a truly special place to stay, eat or host an event.

First opened in 1881, the Grand Hotel has real soul and represents a much loved, bygone era. With many of the original features, the hotel embodies the great optimism of Victorian times without sacrificing on modern comforts. Guests are greeted with a panoramic lounge area to relax in after a long day of exploring the popular English Riviera. During the summer months, you can unwind with the patio doors open, welcoming the warm weather and the gorgeous views of the sea front, while in the winter, the lounge is full of the comfort and crackle of open fires. From the lounge, there is a stunning view overlooking one of the UK’s finest bays.

Guests are also welcome to use the AA rosette rated Restaurant and the Sea View Brasserie and can choose from a range of bedrooms and suites, many of which afford stunning sea views over Torbay and beyond. The 132 individually styled bedrooms come with period embellishments and contemporary styling making every stay a unique experience. As the four star rating would indicate, all the rooms are equipped with the modern essentials for a comfortable stay, whatever the reason for your visit, without losing any of its original Victorian charm.

The hotel is characterised by its striking Victorian architecture, coupled with its fantastic seafront location. The beauty extends into the inside, where you’ll find elegant décor and award-winning food, which has been perfected over the years to provide a truly wonderful dining experience. Over the past 130 years, the Grand has witnessed many historical events and has played its part in several important incidents throughout Britain’s rich and varied history. History buffs will love the various connections to the past, including the knowledge that during World War Two, the hotel was requisitioned by the Royal Air Force and that beneath the wallpaper on the fourth floor, are a number of messages that the airmen left on the walls. Stop for dinner in the restaurant and think back to when it served as a dormitory to house the air force’s many workers.
For those more interested in Medieval history, the beach right at the front of the hotel, Corbyn Bay, was once the site of a medieval harbour and those traditions can still be seen today. Guests with an interest in naval fleets will love the proximity to Torquay’s Marina where a number of vessels can be seen and you can while away the hours watching them depart and arrive, while enjoying the calming sea breeze.

Music fans will be keen to try and book the exact rooms used by the Rolling Stones during one of their many tours. For five days, the band used the Grand Hotel as their base in complete secret until their security let it slip. In those days they were playing the local town hall! Why not have a drink in the bar and imagine how Keith, Ronnie, Charlie, Mick and Bill would have spent their evenings during their stay. The cultural connections don’t stop there, The Grand also has a proud connection with Britain’s best loved crime writer, Agatha Christie, who was born in Torquay and later had a house in the town. Her former home is now owned by the National Trust and is a short journey from the hotel, as is the Agatha Christie mile, a walking trail around Torquay’s centre and the bust that was erected in her honour. The author spent her honeymoon at the hotel and the Agatha Christie Suite was named after her. This room can accommodate up to five people and consists of a double bedroom, twin room, a lounge, complete with sofa bed, and a spacious bathroom as well as a number of other features. A number of Agatha Christie themed events and breaks are also available at The Grand Hotel, please speak to one of our team to book.

A stay at the Grand Hotel will also give you access to the spa, the AA rosette-rated Restaurant 1881 and the Sea View Brasserie, all complemented by 22 miles of spectacular Devon coastline, speak to the team today to book a really special and unique experience in one of Devon’s best loved resorts.