Cary Arms & Spa
Beach Road, Torquay TQ1 3LX England
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Room & Suite (304)
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What you can expect during your stay
- All linens sanitized in high-temperature wash
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy.
About
#66 of 148 B&Bs / Inns in Torquay
Location
4.8
Cleanliness
4.8
Service
4.7
Value
4.2
Travelers' Choice
Chic, boutique 5 star inn privately owned and managed by the de Savary family in the unrivalled location of Babbacombe Bay. There are 10 contemporary, New-England style bedrooms and suites with outstanding sea-view, 6 newly launched Beach Huts and 2 Beach Suites plus 7 coastal cottages for rental. All have excellent sea views with outdoor decks, balconies or gardens. The atmosphere is luxuriously relaxing and friendly. Head Chef, Steve Poyner and his team serve the very best of creative, English heritage dishes focusing on local, seasonal ingredients in an informal and relaxed setting. Hearty breakfasts, long lunches and lazy suppers indoors or out on the sun-terraces. Sheltering in its own unsung part of the South Devon Coast, the English Riviera, the inn is accessible by water and has its own moorings. Enjoy the stunning spa with its hydrotherapy pool, experience showers, sauna, steam room and beauty treatment rooms. Dog and family friendly. The inn is perfect for those looking for a luxurious and private getaway. It will blow the cobwebs away!
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool with view
Sauna
Free breakfast
Beach
Game room
Books, DVDs, music for children
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Restaurant
Breakfast buffet
Breakfast in the room
Complimentary Instant Coffee
Special diet menus
Hiking
Fishing
Board games / puzzles
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Spa
Facial treatments
Foot massage
Head massage
Massage
Massage chair
Steam room
BBQ facilities
Baggage storage
Newspaper
Non-smoking hotel
Outdoor furniture
Shared lounge / TV area
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Ironing service
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Room features
Bathrobes
Desk
Fireplace
Housekeeping
Private balcony
Coffee / tea maker
Flatscreen TV
Complimentary toiletries
Seating area
Clothes rack
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Refrigerator
iPod docking station
Hair dryer
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Suites
Family rooms
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
HOTEL STYLE
Harbor View
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English, French
Location
Full view
75Somewhat walkable
Grade: 75 out of 100
15Restaurantswithin 0.3 miles
4Attractionswithin 0.3 miles
Contact
Beach Road, Torquay TQ1 3LX England
Getting there
Rental CarsSee all Torquay rental cars
1331Reviews7Q+A100Room tips
Reviews
Traveler rating
- 1,022
- 190
- 73
- 28
- 18
Time of year
Traveler type
Language
Selected filters
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- English
Popular mentions
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Most Recent
My fiancé and I have just had the most incredible spa session. It's a lot smaller than expected however it doesn't disappoint! It has the most perfect location, overlooking the bay and sea. Lovely sauna and steam room, indoor pool overlooking the sea, situated inside but with big patio doors open. Plenty of sun loungers and super soft towels and robes. But let me tell you, Chloe, the therapist. INCREDIBLE. I had a 30 minute facial and in 15 years of visiting spas all over the country, she is by far THE BEST. Unlike any other facial I've had. Her technique was incredible. Gaia products smell delicious. Thank you for the most relaxing day. Just a small watch out... we had to park in the pay and display car park, which was fine and cheap (£7 for the day). If there aren't spaces, not sure where you'd park... most likely at the top of the very steep hill you have to drive down, to find this beautiful little gem ❤️…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Our first visit to this tucked away gem. The Cary arms isn't cheap but the food is truly amazing. My other half had a Brixham caught fresh fish finger club sandwich with skin on fries and a fresh salad as a garnish. Myself I had a steak bloomer with Caramelised onion and horseradish sauce with skin on fries with a salad garnish. We had no idea what to expect until the food arrived. I can honestly say that the food was incredible . I.would have the steak bloomer again and again . The bloomer slices were every so slightly toasted . I really can't praise the food highy enough I am smitten . The lady that served us said the bloomers were very very popular. 10/10 taste service and value for money. I know £10-£12 for a sandwich ,fries salad might seem steep, once you try it you will be over the moon . Enjoy your stay…
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded 2 weeks ago
Good afternoon Shaun, Thank you for leaving us a review. I will pass on your lovely comments to the team. Kind regards, Jack
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Fabulous setting directly overlooking the bay - nothing not to like! Access not for the faint hearted driver though! Stayed for 3 nights in a luxury beach hut and hearing the sound of the sea lapping against the rocks was heavenly. Really appreciated the Prosecco left for us to enjoy as it was our anniversary. A bit disappointed with service in as much as that we didnt get fresh towels, was offered a turn down service on arrival but only had this once and this made our stay not quite 5 star. Never enough milk left in the fridge it seems no matter how much you pay to stay. Stayed B&B and ate in restaurant twice, generally very good food. Fab breakfasts! The Beach Hut was well equipped but the corner part of the orange sofa was rock hard, I guess due to general use and wear, but super comfy bed and slept soooo well, so peaceful. Stunning views from Beach Hut 5 and this is what you pay for, the amazing setting. The staff were all very pleasant, from the reception, drivers taking us upto the car park, the Scottish lady breakfast server and the bearded chap who I think was one of the chefs/managers! Would stay again.......…
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Date of stay: June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Good afternoon Niki, Thank your for your review. I am glad overall you enjoyed your visit to us and i apologise for the lack of services you received whilst here. I will chase this up with our housekeeping team to find out why this wasn't up to standard. I will pass on all of your lovely comments to the team. best wishes, Jack
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Lovely room, lovely views in a beautiful setting, restaurant and bar very welcoming with food to match, staff could not do enough for you. Just a heads up if driving down the lane can be a bit daunting. Look forward to a return visit. Kr A & B
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Date of stay: June 2022
Location
Service
Room Tip: Use website to view rooms avaiable
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time to write us a review. You are correct the hill and the lanes surrounding us can be very daunting. A small price to pay for the location we have. I am glad you enjoyed your stay. I will pass on your comments about the team. It is always nice to hear they are appreciated for there hard work. Looking forward to welcoming you back. Best wishes, Jack
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+1
We stayed here for two nights over a weekend at the end of January 2022, in a 'Super Luxury Beach Hut' on a bed and breakfast basis. We ate in the restaurant on both evenings. The Luxury Beach Hut had a wonderful sea view with the bedroom on a open gallery. The "hut" was in fact a luxury room with a private patio with a sea view. The Hut was very well equipped and I would have been happy to simply relax in its luxury during our stay. Food in the restaurant was good and portion size was on the large side. However, I would have preferred a smaller potion size and more focus on quality and presentation. Overall we had a great stay and have recommended this hotel to others. The staff were excellent and very helpful, from those at check in and valet parking, through to the restaurant and bar staff. The Cary Arms sits in Babbacombe Bay, a UNESCO designated geopark, so if like me you have an interest in geology it's a great spot. Otherwise the model village and cliff railway are worthwhile attractions. A word of warning in that Babbacombe Downs is one of the highest promenades on the south coast of England. So the road from the top of the Downs to the the Cary Arms is very steep in places and can be difficult for some vehicles to negotiate, take care on the way down and have valet parking take your car back up to their carpark. Well worth a visit if you can get a sea view.…
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Date of stay: January 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded 3 weeks ago
Good afternoon Steve, Thank you for leaving us a review. I am glad you enjoyed your visit here with us. I will pass on your comments to the kitchen team about portion sizes and presentation. Thank you for recommending us to others. Hopefully we can welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Jack
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We spent three wonderful nights at the Cary Arms & Spa. Our travel agent, adeo Travel, selected it for us, and we got to say, hit it out of the park, with its stunning location. It’s pretty secluded and off-the-beaten-path. Once arriving, you just want to stay put and enjoy all their offerings and the panoramic seascape. Our beautifully appointed room provided a spectacular view, and outdoor deck, with its exhilarating, fresh sea air. The inn is family run and you can tell by all the charming details and excellent service provided by a super friendly, discreet staff. The complimentary sloe gin in the room was a fine and tasty afternoon treat we enjoyed upon returning each day. We appreciated the car valet service, since driving up/down the road leading to the hotel was challenging. They were always accommodating. There’s a terrific 5-✰✰✰✰✰ restaurant; the hearty breakfast is unbelievable with lots of delicious choices. Their quintessential British Full Breakfast was an immense undertaking; all their food is provided by local purveyors with topnotch ingredients. You can taste the difference. Service was prompt and we enjoyed the lovely wait staff. For dinner, the Fish ‘n Chips were terrific, with a side order of gigantic onion rings; the cod served over polenta, drizzled in basil pesto oil was outstanding. The Cary Arms is the kind of place, that if one wins the lottery, it would be a top contender to plop oneself down here, read an Agatha Christie murder mystery, and hang out for a spell.…
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded Jul 2, 2022
Good morning, Thank you for taking the time to leave us such a lovely review. I am glad you enjoyed your stay with us. I will pass on all of your comments to the team who will be happy to hear them. Hopefully we can welcome you back in the future. Kind regards, Jack Howell
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I really didn’t want to rate this so poorly but there were so many disappointing aspects to our three night stay. We stopped here for a few nights on a 10 night “road trip” having stayed in Swanage, Studlands and Lulworth Cove and expected so much more. Having reviewed many other places, you can see that we really aren’t fussy, the price that you pay for this hotel though, you’d expect something a little above the rest. Ok, the location was hands down the highlight of our trip. Even though the weather was not great, the views were stunning! We found a few things lacking in the service of the hotel though. A couple of things weren’t great for us and not one member of staff seemed to really take “control or accountability”. On the first morning we were served a boiling cafetière of coffee. On pushing the plunger down, it just exploded! It burnt my wrist and although not the end of the world, no one seemed that bothered or offered any assistance. I felt like I’d just managed to mess the table up and caused them more work? On the second morning, breakfast took 45 minutes to arrive. Again, when we asked how long it would be (as we had a bus to catch) we never had an answer as the chef barked at the waitress. On the three nights, we never had a proper room service. The first morning, we assumed it was because we had left our dog there. (They just gave us some more milk and made the bed) The second day, we took the dog to breakfast, came back over an hour later and went straight out. On coming back after a day out, the room had not been touched. We ended up cleaning, emptying bins, washing cups etc. We never received any fresh water to drink or milk or coffee replacement? The beach hut itself was lovely. Very comfortable and well equipped. There are so many rivals in the market at the moment and for the price we paid, we won’t be hurrying back unfortunately. This hotel was recommended to us and looking at the reviews, I know that our negative experience was a minority, but nevertheless, it was our experience! Little things like checking up on my burn, seeing that we finally had everything in our room (as we had to chase this several times after a tiring day out) a quicker breakfast service? Finally, maybe a couple of patio heaters, as it was too cold to sit outside at the restaurant. We loved Babbacombe, but sadly don’t think that we will return here.…
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded Jul 2, 2022
Good morning, I am sorry to hear there were a few issues whilst you were here. May i ask you please give me a call at your earliest convenience just to go through your points to allow me to look into them. Please call 01803 327110 and ask for Jack. Kind regards, Jack Howell
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+1
Not many hotels have a beach hut to stay in but this one does so it makes it a bit different. The hotel has a great setting and views by the beach and a short walk to the funicular railway into Babbacombe. It is expensive, so thankfully breakfast, which was great, was included. The service was also excellent and we ate in the pod outside which was again a bit different. There is a spa but they now charge £25 a day. The hotel is set at the bottom of a very steep hill, but they will bring your car to reception if you want to go to the surrounding area.
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Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip: Try a beach hut, although they are more expensive the normal rooms
See more room tips
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded May 28, 2022
Good afternoon Robin, Thank you for taking the time to write us review. I will pass on your comments to the team. Hopefully we can welcome you back again in the future. Best wishes, Jack
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We were at cary arms back in October of last year and when we left I quietly booked a three night stay for our 20 yr anniversary a week ago. We can not fault at all the Cary arms at Babbacombe for their hospitality the staff are fantastic, the chefs put on the best breakfast, lunch, and dinner . The rooms are great with lovely fees of Babbacombe bay and our room this time was Fleet Admiral you will not be disappointed,! Not much else to say it’s just a “ great place” Glyn Morgan
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Date of stay: May 2022
Value
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded May 21, 2022
Good afternoon Glyn, Thank you for your lovely comments. Its nice to see guests like yourself come back time and time again. I am glad you enjoyed your anniversary stay here with us. I look forward to welcoming you back again in the future. Best wishes, Jack
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Forgot to review this fine hotel after our February visit. We loved it, upon entering it’s very casual and in fact a little pub like. The staff are exceptionally warm and welcoming, ourselves and the dog enjoyed the excellent room/suite over the water. It was beautifully appointed, spacious and comfortable with everything included that you’d expect. Nice linen, great shower, etc etc. Breakfast was very good, their boisterous service team really went out of their way to take care of us, we ate dinner here as well and although the food on the menu is relatively simple the quality is excellent. We might return with our children on another occasion. Beautiful location, well appointed but again kudos to the excellent staff they have 👍
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Traveled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Response from Rob Allen, General Manager at Cary Arms & Spa
Responded May 21, 2022
Good afternoon, Thank you for taking the time write us a review. I am glad you enjoyed your stay here with us back in February. I will pass on your kind comments about the team. Best wishes, Jack
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PRICE RANGE
$260 - $453 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
the cary arms hotel torquay
LOCATION
United KingdomEnglandDevonEnglish RivieraTorquay
NUMBER OF ROOMS
25
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Claim Your Listing Frequently Asked Questions about Cary Arms & Spa
Which popular attractions are close to Cary Arms & Spa?
Nearby attractions include Babbacombe Theatre (0.2 miles), Babbacombe & Oddicombe - South West Coast Path (0.2 miles), and George Inn (0.3 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Cary Arms & Spa?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, free breakfast, and an on-site restaurant.
Which room amenities are available at Cary Arms & Spa?
Top room amenities include a flat screen TV, a refrigerator, and a desk.
What food & drink options are available at Cary Arms & Spa?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge during their stay.
What are some restaurants close to Cary Arms & Spa?
Conveniently located restaurants include Hamiltons Club, The Buccaneer Inn, and Babbacombe Inn.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Cary Arms & Spa?
Yes, guests have access to a sauna and a pool with a view during their stay.
Are pets allowed at Cary Arms & Spa?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Cary Arms & Spa?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English and French.
Are there any historical sites close to Cary Arms & Spa?
Many travelers enjoy visiting Torre Abbey (1.8 miles), Friends Of Oldway (3.6 miles), and English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark (1.4 miles).
Does Cary Arms & Spa have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbor view available here.