The Somerville Torquay: A Review

I absolutely love the seaside this time of year. The sun is just about warm enough to enjoy and ice cream and the colours from the flowers are just incredible. This Easter, we thought that we would head on down to the English Riviera and explore the Devonshire sights. After much searching, we stumbled upon the Somerville Torquay. With its beautiful rooms, excellent hosts and perfect breakfast, we just had to share our experience with you.

Checking In

When you get to the Somerville Torquay you have to go along a private drive. The owners have spent a good amount of time designing this, with named Mediterranean plants bordering the driveway. It really added to the Riviera feel, especially with the more exotic species that were planted. The car park itself is to the back of the property and feels both private and safe.

The entrance is just around the corner from the car park. When we entered, we were given a warm welcome from our hosts Helen and Peter. They both moved to Torquay from Oxfordshire around seven years ago. Peter was more than happy to show us the map of the area and recommended key places to visit. He even came up with a make-shift itinerary for each day. We loved this personal approach and have never had such an easy host to talk to.

Once checked in, we were then taken up to our room; the Garden Suite. Peter showed us around the room and even spoke about the inspiration behind pieces. Once we had been shown around, he told us about Helen’s Daily Cake, which is available to guests each day. I wish that more hotels did a personal thing like this; it was an excellent idea. The cakes were also fantastic too, especially the brownies!

The Suite

Our room in the Somerville Torquay was everything that you could want and more. As a suite, it came with a luxurious living area. We had a comfy leather sofa, complete with coffee and tea making facilities. It was the little things though that made the big difference. We had a small jar of mini eggs in our room, as well as two homemade cookies. There were also plenty of tea, hot chocolate and coffee options for us to choose from.

Down a small corridor was both our bathroom and bedroom. The bathroom was large and spotless. The showstopper was a large freestanding bath, complete with a large bottle of bubblebath and even a small television. Needless to say, I looked forward to relaxing in there. There was also a good-sized shower cubicle with a power shower. All of the washing solutions provided were The White Company, which just added to the luxurious feeling of the place.

The bedroom however was easily my favourite part of our suite. With a cosy king-sized bed and a super soft mattress, it was easily one of the cosiest beds I’ve stayed in. There was also a good-sized television for you to relax with. I also really liked the décor here though. With neo-tropical wallpaper and ornaments, along with antique-looking furniture. It almost shouldn’t have worked, but it did so well. Overall, the suite was highly impressive at the Somerville Torquay, easily enough alone for me to go back.

The Breakfast

As a Bed and Breakfast, I was looking forward to the morning at the Somerville. Boasting impressive awards on the door, they clearly took breakfast seriously… As do my Jack and I.

There are two sections that are included as part of your stay. The continental buffet is served at the bar and includes a selection of pastries, cereals and yoghurts. However, they also have included some beautifully decorated yoghurt pots with different curds in (including homemade lemon curd), which tasted divine. There was also fresh fruit and local cheeses, which Jack couldn’t get enough of. To add to this, there was fresh juice and a smoothie of the day, which was a particular highlight.

On to the main event and at the Somerville you will be spoiled for choice. Their Full Monty breakfast is packed full of locally-sourced, high quality ingredients. Jack ordered this both mornings and loved it; he claims it is one of the best fry-ups he’s had. I went for their eggs Benedict, which was equally as tasty. On the second day though, I succumbed to peer pressure and joined Jack with a cooked breakfast, opting for the slightly lighter version of the Full Monty featuring scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato and field mushrooms. To say that I was impressed does not go far enough.

Again, our hosts were right in the thick of it. They would come over and speak to you with a genuine interest, or get a conversation going between different parties. There was obvious passion and enjoyment from our hosts in all that they did, which just added to the overall ambiance.

Nearby Attractions

I would firstly recommend that you speak to Peter upon arrival and ask what there is to do; he really knows the area. We loved using it as a base to explore Devon. We went into Dartmouth to explore first and then on to Blackpool Sands to explore the beach.

There is just so much to do around there it would be impossible to list it all. It also depends on the season that you are staying! I am a sucker for Dartmoor and would recommend going whatever the weather. We also ventured to Buckfast Abbey to admire the rich history and to enjoy a delicious pasty in their café.

Torquay is also right on your doorstep and is definitely worth seeing. Given the weather, we only spent a few hours walking around. You are also close to a good few restaurants that cater to everyone; speak to your hosts to see what works for you!

The Verdict

Our stay at the Somerville Torquay was just incredible. From the excellent setting to the warm hosts and delicious food. We love exploring this area and, whilst we feel that we have seen Torquay now, we cannot wait to return to the Somerville to explore more of Devon and to tuck in to their delicious daily cakes!

*cover image source The Somerville

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