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LGBTQ+ Guide

The three seaside towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, known collectively as the English Riviera, have been welcoming LGBTQ+ visitors for decades. South Devon’s beautiful bay is a thriving gay staycation destination, with first-class facilities and an anything goes attitude. While our guests can feel comfortable and safe visiting any establishment and taking part in any activity, we have enlisted the help of members of the local LGBTQ+ community to pull together this ultimate guide to a gay get-away. Packed with their top tips of where they would stay and play, we hope you find it useful, and we look forward to welcoming you on to the Rainbow Riviera!

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The Rainbow Riviera

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Where To Stay

Although visitors can feel comfortable and safe staying at any establishment, we have enlisted the help of members of the local LGBTQ+ community to discover the ultimate gay get-away.
Nightlife

Discover the best places in the Bay to enjoy a night out on the Rainbow Riviera!
What's On

The English Riviera makes an excellent place to base yourself for several of the regional pride events, plus some fabulous black tie and cabaret evenings.
Culture

With five theatres, a packed programme of events and plenty of museums, the English Riviera is a great place for culture.

WHERE TO STAY

THE 25 BOUTIQUE B&B, TORQUAY

The 25 Boutique B&B is a multi-award-winning adult-only establishment that has been voted ‘Best B&B in the World’ twice in the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. Your will ensure you have an absolutely fabulous stay in a truly boutique 5-star guest house. But don’t just take our word for it. When Joanna Lumley stayed there, she wrote in the visitor’s book: “That was fabulous. I loved every bit of your gorgeous B&B. Every room, every mouthful, every award…you are literally the best.”

HARBOUR VIEW, BRIXHAM

If you fancy staying in the picturesque fishing town of Brixham, then Harbour View could be the perfect place to anchor for the night. It’s a simple and smart B&B in a Grade II listed building and as the name suggests, boasts some amazing panoramic views over the inner harbour and across to Paignton and Brixham. Steve makes a great host and will be able to point you in the right direction for everything from delicious seafood to boat trips and spectacular coastal walks.

THE CARY ARMS, TORQUAY

For something really special, The Cary Arms and Spa is a waterfront hotel down at Babbacombe Bay, that offers luxury accommodation with spectacular sea views. As well as hotel rooms, they also offer chic beach huts, charming cottages, as well as a range of dog-friendly accommodation. To really spoil yourself, you can also relax in the hydrotherapy pool or indulge in one of their Thalgo treatments in the Cary Spa. There are even boat moorings, if you fancy rocking up in your yacht.

Villa Marina, TORQUAY

An award-winning, adult only Victorian guesthouse in the heart of Torquay. As a same sex couple, your hosts Vincent and Erwan appreciate how important it is to feel safe and comfortable being your true, authentic self when travelling to ensure you can fully relax. With just 5 guest rooms and a large private garden, you can be sure of a peaceful and relaxing stay that will exceed your expectations.

TYNDALE B&B, TORQUAY

An AA 5 Star Silver-Awarded Boutique Bed and Breakfast. The bedrooms are elegant and stylish. Each bedroom is individually designed and decorated with all the comforts of a luxury small hotel but retaining an intimate, homely feel.

NIGHTLIFE

There’s a huge variety of bars and restaurants to explore as the sun goes down and these are just a selection of our favourites for a tipple or three.

Torquay

Elton’s Piano Bar

Located under the Hampton by Hilton Hotel near Torquay’s harbourside, Elton’s is an over 25’s piano bar with live music five nights a week. Expect extravagant décor, fine wines and a fabulous array of cocktails, while you can also order tapas from around the world. The centre piece of the bar is the white baby grand piano, where resident pianist Greg Agar (and other guests), tinkle on the ivories and takes requests from 8pm till late.

Soho

Soho Bar and Cocktail Garden on the harbourside in Torquay is popular with the LGBTQ+ community. Famous for its extravagant and camp décor (we’ve never seen so many disco balls on one ceiling) and wild parties, the venue is licensed right through until 2.30am. The bar sells a dangerously tempting selection of cocktails, while DJ’s keep the dancefloor packed from Wednesday night and right across the weekend. The venue also boasts the legendary Secret Garden, which is a great place to chill out and socialise with its totally tropical vibe.

Paignton

Cantina

This cool hangout down on Goodrington Sands in Paignton is definitely worth checking out when you are in town. With a funky décor inside and an amazing beer garden outside, it’s a great place to chill and socialise and soak up that sea air. Head chef Barry is amazing and if you like your seafood, you are in for a real treat. With live music on Thursday evenings and Sunday afternoons, it’s all about the vibe. And the cocktails. And the stunning setting. But mostly the cocktails.

Brixham

Liberty

Liberty describes itself as a tea parlour and cocktail bar and while you might think that something like that wouldn’t work in a traditional fishing town, it’s invariably packed. With a very quirky and kitsch interior, you can enjoy cakes and savoury treats all washed down with a nice cuppa in the daytime and cocktails, gin and champagne in the evenings. Or indeed the daytime – you are on your holidays, after all! We are rather partial to their Bottomless Brunch that runs at various times throughout the year, which offers brunch and a cake and unlimited fizz or G&T for an hour and a half. What could possibly go wrong! Non-alcoholic alternatives are available.

The Prince William

“The Willy”, as it is affectionately known, is a habourside gastro pub, carvery and bar, with a large outdoor seating area that catches the sun for most of the day. Inside it’s incredibly colourful and quirky and serves delicious food and a great range of drinks. Enjoy freshly caught fish landed on the doorstep by Brixham Dayboat Adela BM79.

What's On

PRIDE EVENTS

Torbay and the English Riviera makes an excellent place to base yourself for several of the regional pride events. Torbay Pride takes place in September, Exeter Pride takes place in May and is usually one of the first LGBTQ+ pride events in the UK calendar. Featuring a parade, followed by music and cabaret in Northernhay Gardens and a packed programme of events at the Exeter Phoenix arts centre. Pride in Plymouth takes place in August and includes a parade, followed by a large event on Plymouth Hoe. Finally, Totnes Pride takes place on the first weekend in September and offers a fantastic programme of events in this fantastic town, known as being a hotbed for alternative and counterculture. And it’s just a short taxi or bus ride away from Paignton.

Into the Mix

Into the Mix is a celebration of diversity in all its forms. The inaugural festival took place at Torre Abbey in Torquay in 2019 and encompassed people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people of different faiths, cultural heritage, age, ability and background.

The Rainbow Ball

This annual LGBTQ+ fundraising ball takes places annually on or near World AIDS Day on 1 December and bills itself as “Torquay’s most outrageous night of the year.” The black-tie event includes a three-course feast and an amazing night of entertainment featuring cabaret, burlesque, drag acts and live music. The event raises thousands of pounds each year for various charities including Rowcroft Hospice.

CULTURE

Theatre

Tor Bay boasts five theatres with a packed programme of shows and entertainment throughout the year. The Princess Theatre in Torquay welcomes large-scale UK touring productions including regular West End hit shows, whilst the fantastic Palace Theatre in Paignton hosts everything from talks to tribute nights and comedy to popular plays. Over the summer months, look out for outdoor theatre performances in the grounds of Cockington and at Torre Abbey.

Museums

Torre Abbey is a museum of history and art, housed in a stunning building part of which date back to 1196. The interior gardens are also a stunning oasis of tranquillity, with palm houses and an Agatha Christie Potent Plants Garden to explore. Torquay Museum is Devon’s oldest established museum, with a wonderful permanent collection and regular temporary exhibitions.

Annual Events

The English Riviera boasts a packed events programme and you’ll nearly always find something fun going on. Amongst the many highlights are the brand new English Riviera Walking Festival in April, the English Riviera Airshow in June, the International Agatha Christie Festival in September and England’s Seafood Feast in late September/early October. Look out for plenty of traditional events too, including sailing regattas, the Brixham Pirate Festival and the annual Brixham Fishstock, which is a celebration of music and seafood.

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The official tourism website for the English Riviera

This Official Tourism Website is managed by the English Riviera BID Company Ltd.

Company number 10237792

Registered address 5 Vaughan Parade, Torquay, Devon, England, TQ2 5JG.

Telephone 01803 211211 enquiries@englishrivierabid.co.uk

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