Aside from the normal and welcome chatter with our guests and “quacker” with the resident family of ducks (determined to claim the swimming pool as their annual summer home), we seem to have developed a new breed of customer. How or where this particular guest appeared from is anybody’s guess as it was a hedgehog! One minute nothing and the next, curled up in the Bar, was this sweet little prickly thing that had made itself quite at home. And, it was sober to boot! No sooner had it been gently escorted back to an appropriate place in the garden when at the front entrance appears a collie dog. Collared, coiffed and very respectable it was too, wagging its tail. It seemed to be satisfied with the Grand welcome as once petted and admired, it turned and trotted off. So I guess there is some truth in the saying that if you are around long enough, sooner or later everyone will beat a path to your door. The more the merrier we say!

Right now there is good entertainment available in the hotel. Every Friday and second Saturday you can chill out in the Compass Bar and Lounge to the sounds of Howard Jones – an excellent singer who will have you up and dancing before you know it! Complementing Howard on alternate Saturdays is Talitha another singer guaranteed to get the feet going. (Even the manager has been spotted on the dance floor!). On Wednesdays and Sunday lunchtimes, Paul Vincent, a pianist who has accompanied the likes of Morecambe and Wise and Norman Wisdom amongst others during an illustrious career, will tinkle the ivories and of course, Sunday evenings, Tuesdays and Thursdays feature our resident pianist Neil Reid.

The atmosphere is great, the staff hospitable and there is always something to watch so it’s no surprise that the word of a friendly welcome is travelling fast – even in the animal kingdom!

Date: 27 Jun – 23 Aug ‘09

Don’t miss your chance to see this stunning installation at Torre Abbey in 2009. Free to enter, this exhibition runs from 27th June to 23rd August 2009 and will be the centrepiece of a year of contemporary art in the ancient setting of Torre Abbey. Built in 1196 by the ‘White Canons’ the Abbey is Torquay’s oldest building and its recent restoration will provide an unusual backdrop for Gormley’s thought-provoking installation.

Perhaps most famous for his giant sculpture, Angel of the North, Gormley’s Turner-prize-winning Field series is a startling and arresting sight: thousands of unglazed, fired, small clay figures, standing closely together, all staring towards the viewer. The Field for the British Isles’ comprising 40,000 clay figures will fill much of the Abbey’s huge Spanish Barn. 

The Spanish Barn, venue for Field, is a mediaeval Tithe Barn originally built to store taxes paid to the Abbey in the form of grain, hay and other farm produce. The barn’s unexpected name, and its place in the history books, was firmly established at the time of the Spanish Armada, when 397 prisoners were captured and held in the barn for a fortnight.

The exhibition will be open daily from 27th June to 23rd August 2009 in the Spanish Barn.  Entry to the exhibition is free of charge – donations are invited.  The Torre Abbey Contemporary Open exhibition will run concurrently in the Abbey (normal Abbey admissions prices apply).

Keeper of Art, Amelia Marriette: “The exhibiting of Antony Gormley’s Field for the British Isles is the start of a new era for Torre Abbey as a major centre for contemporary arts in the region. I guarantee that Field will create a very strong impression on all that come to see it and experience it’s silent message. Gormley is one of Britain’s best known living artists and we know that visitors will travel far and wide to see his work. With Blank Canvas running alongside we can also make this event a fantastic opportunity for artists in the South West to showcase their work. It really is the beginning of something much bigger for Torre Abbey and for Torbay.”
Click here to download leaflet PDF 

Plan your visit
The Spanish Barn at Torre Abbey is 5 minutes walk from Torquay Train station.  It is also 5 minutes walk from the Seafront which has regular bus services from Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.  Bus routes are any of the 12 routes, X46 and 32. There are several pay and display car parks that can be used to reach the Spanish Barn atTorre Abbey:
- Main car park at the Riviera Centre follow signs through car park
- Torre Valley, Walnut Road
- Abbey Park, Belgrave Road
- Shedden Hill
Coaches can off-load in the Torre Abbey entrance area (through main gates).  Parking is then at the Lymington Road Coach Station.
Please note that there are no public toilets at the Spanish Barn.  Nearest public facilities are at Abbey Meadows and at the Torquay Seafront (by Torre Abbey Sands).

“WHY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS TO GET DRESSED UP!”

Due to the overwhelming success of Torquay’s famous “Holy Ball”, the Grand Hotel is pleased to announce the launch of Torquay’s first annual Summer Ball.

The beautiful and elegant Grand Hotel is the perfect location to spend a warm summer evening, drinking Champaign, watching the sun set over Torbay and then dancing the night away.

So why wait until Christmas to dress up! This exclusive evening will take place on Saturday 14th June and will feature live entertainment. The dress code is evening dress for the ladies and black tie for the gentlemen.

Tickets are only £17 per person and this includes champagne & canapés. Why not start the evening off with an even bigger bang and enjoy a sumptuous 3-course meal for an additional £22 per person. We also have a number of Accommodation packages available.

Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast – book early to avoid disappointment.

Contact us today for further details on Telephone 01803 296677 or by E-mail conference@grandtorquay.co.uk.”

It may be Valentine’s Day but spare a thought for 25 ladies who are going to be feeling more blue than pink with the blushes of romance. Where are all the single men?

For those not enjoying coupledom at this noted time of year, a Singles event with a difference – speed dating over dinner – has been organised this Saturday (Feb 16th) at Torquay hotel, The Grand. A positive response was received in droves but from women. In typical new century style it seems to be the women who are making the first move and the men have gone all shy!

Given the amount of people dating on line, has it now become virtually impossible to find true love in real life? Unless some single males in Torquay find the courage to come out of hiding then sea is going to be all that is in the air. This doesn’t bode well for a leap year!

Everyone is in the same position – Single, so men why not to prove women that you’re just as brave as them and you never know you just might find the one you’ve been looking for.

It’s all the fun of the fair at Torquay Carnival time. A fantastic ambience, parade with great floats, plenty going on – why not just come on down and join in the fun!