Nightlife in Torquay

With over 300 different gins, vodkas and cocktails to choose from, Soho Bar is easily one of our favourite watering holes in Torquay. Overlooking the Marina, and close to Torwood Street and much of the main clubbing action, the bar is housed in a converted bank and is a neon-lit space full of design quirks and stunning lighting – think a retro version of Blade Runner and you’re not far off.

A minute’s walk from there is The Offshore Bar, a relaxed bar that’s busy from morning to night, comfortably blurring the lines between café, bar and restaurant. With something cold and wet in your hand, a plate of fresh seafood in front of you, the sun shining on the terrace and gentle live acoustic music washing over you, it’s a brilliant place for a sundowner, with a wide range of beer, wine, gin and hot drinks on the menu.

On the other side of the marina is The Fat Cow. A legendary burger bar, they also have an incredible collection of rum and rum-inspired cocktails served with a gently lilting reggae soundtrack. The burgers are some of the best in town – with a full range of vegan and veggie options – and the drinks aren’t far behind: good luck choosing from their 12-page drinks and dessert menu!

Another excellent food and bar option is the Rock Garden Cafe Bar a short walk up Rock Street from the Marina. Their beer garden is one of the biggest and best in Torquay, perfect for soaking up the summer sun armed with a cocktail, craft beer or glass of wine (or a cocktail pitcher if you’re sharing or celebrating). Once you’re there, though, you’ll soon be salivating over the food. Their wood-fired pizzas, immense sharing platters and brunch options are delicious.

In a popular part of Torquay along the Marina and Torwood St packed with bars, pubs and clubs, The Hole in the Wall kick-started Torquay’s nightlife scene way back in 1540. Officially the oldest pub in town, The Hole in the Wall still has plenty of vintage features including low-beamed ceilings and cobbled floors – and while its customers might not be smugglers any more, it’s stuck to its traditional mix of first-class service, real cask ales and traditional pub food classics to create a timeless mix.

At the end of the Marina and Victoria Parade is O’Donnells Seamus, a traditional Irish pub. The pub has a strong entertainment line up spanning karaoke, quizzes and traditional Irish singers as well as a range of bar snacks and food served from 10am-4pm daily.

Heading away from the coast, The Cider Press near Rock Road is one of the busiest and liveliest traditional pubs in Torquay. As well as a cracking range of beers and ciders, they’re a popular sports pub, showing all the latest Premier League action, rugby, cricket and more, with guest bands and singers on weekend evenings.

A short stroll away is Bull & Bush, an in-demand family-friendly pub with a large beer garden. The food covers all the pub grub classics while the main bar is welcoming with a wide range of drinks including regular food and drinks deals. They’ve been hand-pouring cask ales for nearly 200 years and have a strong selection of local beer, cider and cocktails plus a pool table and plenty of TVs screening the latest sporting action.

For late-night action, look no further than Torwood Street near the seafront. The road is home to The Scala building which houses four clubs covering everything from party tunes, drum and bass, commercial dance music and more.

Clued-up clubbers and house music heads will want to check out The Foundry. The cool club hosts a wide range of current dance music DJs and trends and does a good job of making you think you’re in Ibiza thanks to the decor and impressive lights and sound. Primarily open at the weekends, the club opens just after 10 and runs until 3.30am the next morning. And, when they have a superstar DJ, The Foundry can take over the other clubs creating a 3,000-capacity club complex to roam around and explore!

Also in the same complex is Decades. As the name suggests, it’s a retro lounge and club playing a dancefloor friendly mix of classics and cheesy pop hits. Open every Friday and Saturday night, they also do a great range of cocktails and you can even sign up for a cocktail-making masterclass to kick-start your night.

Where The Foundry is the place to go for more commercial club music and big-name DJs that you’ll hear on the radio, The Attic is a strictly underground club. Also part of the same complex, it caters to more alternative sounds covering everything from cutting-edge live music to drum and bass DJs, psytrance nights and heavy metal.