About

The Holly Ball 2023 will be held at the Grand Hotel, Torquay on Friday 15th December 2023. The dress code is strictly black tie, entry is subject to all guests adhering to the dress code below. Guests may either wear Dinner Jackets and Bow Ties, or Ankle Length Dresses.

Hosted every year by Torquay Rowing Club, over one thousand people enjoy live music and dancing to celebrate Christmas. It’s the best way to celebrate Christmas with colleagues, friends and family in Devon.

The Holly Ball is organised by the members of Torquay Rowing Club, which is one of the oldest sporting clubs in the bay, having been active since 1869.

But we have not managed the Holly Ball alone, the The Grand Hotel, Torquay has been our chosen venue for almost every Ball since 1950. We are glad to be able to work with them each year to provide such an amazing event!

The first mention of a Ball in the Rowing Club records was on 10th January 1906, it was held at the Bath Saloons (where Living Coasts used to be located).

It started at 2100 until 0300 with dancing. Tickets were priced at 5/- (shillings) or 25p and 4/- (shillings) or 20p.

Unfortunately, our records aren’t complete due to age, but we believe this would have been the forerunner to the Holly Ball.

There was no Holly Ball from 1915 – 1920 due to the First World War, nor from 1940 – 1946 due to the Second World War.

As with most clubs at the time, whilst we still retained members the clubs were closed.