Riviera Retreat

Choose this exceptionally large townhouse in Torquay for a group get-together and you can experience life on the English Riviera in all its glory. You’ll be close to the beach, to the resort's famous palm-lined promenade and to the wide choice of seafront eateries and attractions. Torquay has a marina, a harbour and a famed microclimate that means it gets more sunshine than almost anywhere else in the UK. It’s no wonder that it’s been the classic seaside destination since Victorian times when large houses lining leafy avenues were built. It’s in one of those historic houses that you’ll find Riviera Retreat: a 10-bed 10 bathroom self-catering holiday home sleeping up to 24 people that’s within walking distance of everything Torquay has to offer.

The Victorian roots of the building are subtly evident, but for the most part this place has been thoroughly modernised. Under the high-sculpted ceilings of the living room, there is a baby grand piano, glass tables, big comfy sofas and a wall-mounted Smart TV, fireplace and cosy snug. Off the hallway where a wooden bannister sweeps to a scrolling finish, you’ll find the games room that all generations will love. Enjoy the retro games consoles, seven-foot pool table, dart board, vinyl record player, retro radio, bar two drinks fridges, mood lighting and more. The colour scheme and the sense of fun is continued throughout the house. It’s mostly black, white and grey with pops of colour and exotica here and there.

There are zebra print runners on the dining tables, tropical plants, prints and objet d’art spread throughout the house. Some of this sounds opulent, but overall this is a simple holiday home, providing a place to stay that’s fun, functional and contemporary. Its biggest luxury is perhaps that every bedroom has its own shower room and loo (nine are en suite, one bathroom is just across the hall). There’s a mix of doubles and twins, some with sea views, which means that it suits multi-generational groups of families and friends and corporate trips very well. But other groups, including respectful stag and hen groups, are also welcome by request.

The kitchen is designed and equipped specifically for larger groups, with double ovens, fridges, freezers, toasters, kettles, plenty of cutlery, crockery, pans and a laundry area. The large dining room with 65 inch Smart TV and evening mood lighting can comfortably seat 24, and provides a great space for eating, training and small events.

Whoever you come with, the proximity to Torquay’s attractions is inviting. A short walk away (750 metres) you reach the beachfront and promenade. Riviera Retreat is in Torquay’s oldest district, with Torre Abbey Gardens as one of the closest neighbours. Torquay station is under five minutes' walk away which means Riviera Retreat is easily accessible by train, less than three hours from London. And when you get here, you’ll see there’s no need for a car. Restaurants, bars, gym, shops, leisure facilities, bus stops – everything is on your doorstep. You’re better off on foot, in a boat or on public transport– not just for Torquay itself, but for its surrounding attractions, which include everything from the cliff railway and beach at Babbacombe Bay to the caves of Kent Caverns and lots more great beaches.