515 Babbacombe Road, Torquay, United Kingdom | (618) 248-8274
Deluxe guesthouse full of antiques and lavish decor
Five-minute walk to Torquay harbor and center
Beautifully presented
rooms with luxury touches
Excellent
cooked-to-order breakfast included
Opulently decorated
lounge and bar
Free Wi-Fi and on-site
parking
Decor might be a
little fussy for some
Some traffic
noise occasionally audible
Wi-Fi patchy in places
The nine-room Somerville is
an upscale boutique bed-and-breakfast with some of the most lavish, classically styled interiors in Torquay or the English Riviera.
Though the property does overlook
a fairly busy road, traffic noise isn't too obtrusive; the town center is a five-minute walk away but guests should note that it's
all uphill on the way back. Rooms are superbly presented with luxury amenities and
spotless bathrooms. An excellent
cooked-to-order breakfast, wonderfully opulent lounge, and beautiful green gardens are the finishing
touches on one of the finest places to stay in town -- and at relatively
reasonable rates. Travelers seeking something with more facilities and closer to the beach might want to consider the Imperial Hotel instead.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Boutique hotel meets guesthouse with opulent interiors and pleasant gardens
A gently sloping
driveway curves up through gardens bursting with colorful flowers and
sub-tropical plants to the entrance of the Somerville, which is marked by
candy-striped awnings and a Union Jack flag. Stepping inside, gilt-framed
mirrors, oil paintings, and carved wooden furnishings set the tone while cut-glass chandeliers and antique vases add to the lavish ambience. The
reception area is no less extravagant with vintage blackamoor lamps and floral
wallpaper, while the lounge is reminiscent of a Louis XIV
17th-century salon with its collection of curios, elaborate antiques, and
tasseled finery. The Somerville was originally built as a private residence back
in the 1840s and several extensions later it opened as a hotel over 60 years
ago. The Somerville describes itself as a boutique property, and there are only nine guest rooms
spread over its two floors, while the rear garden provides a pleasant place to
unwind. Guests mainly consist of slightly older vacationing couples, but families are also catered to.
Location
Pleasant spot on an occasionally busy road, a five-minute walk from Torquay harbor
Though the area
is generally quiet, the hotel is set on a well-trafficked road that slopes down
to the picturesque Torquay harbor and the center of town, which is just over five
minutes away on foot. There are numerous restaurants, pubs, and shops on and around
the seafront, while the nearest bus stop is just a minute away and connects to
the main Torre Abbey Sands beach in about 20 minutes (walking time is about the same). Torquay railway station
is a five-minute cab journey away, while the bus station is slightly farther. Some might find the walk back up to the hotel a struggle as it is up a fairly steep hill.
Rooms
Elegant, classically styled rooms with luxury touches
The hotel's lavish classical styling is a bit more subdued in its nine guestrooms, though the tone of decor follows in the same vein with gilded headboards, floral pattern
fabrics, and cut-glass chandeliers. Amenities include flat-screen TVs, iPod
docks, mini-fridges, and good quality tea/coffee facilities, while rooms also
benefit from free Wi-Fi, bottled mineral water, and bedside candy. Beds are comfortable with goose down toppers, while clean, modern bathrooms come with bathrobes and luxury (albeit wall-mounted) toiletries. Street-facing rooms might get traffic noise, however, especially at morning rush hour.
Features
Excellent buffet and cooked-to-order breakfast included, lovely garden, and free Wi-Fi
Free breakfast
is served each morning in the hotel's bright conservatory overlooking the front
garden and views over the town, or can be taken in-room. A continental-style buffet is available as well
as an excellent cooked-to-order breakfast. Various drinks are available from the front desk and can be enjoyed
in a pretty rear garden or the hotel's lavish lounge, which has a complete set of Agatha Christie's books. Being more of guesthouse than a hotel means there's not much else in the way of facilities, though Wi-Fi is
free of charge (but can be patchy in places). Guests arriving by car have access
to on-site parking.
