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Disappearing and 'in peril' breweries with Wittenden
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Detail Pages
Hole in the Wall, Torquay
Torquay
TQ1 2AU
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 8½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about Hole in the Wall
All you would really expect from an historic seaside pub. Lots of seaside paraphernalia. Low ceilings. Extensive Menu.
Used to be in the GBG but dropped out. TT Landlord an unexpected find and in good condition.
On 13th October 2022
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1337 recommendations about 1323 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about Hole in the Wall
Just a short distance from the harbour, up an unassuming side street, this is a great little historic pub with a cracking interior that’s well worth taking a bit of time to explore. A corner entrance takes you into a compact public bar area with a couple of high tables and stools, leaded front windows and a whole load of excellent breweriana on display. The bar runs along the rear wall, leaving only a small amount of space to the front, where low stools serve a low ledge that runs beneath the windows. The bar has a lovely dark wood counter front, a pleasant mirrored bar back and an impressive collection of pint pots hung from the dark wood ceiling beams above. The bar turns 90 degrees at the left-hand end, where it runs towards the rear of the room through a flint-stone floored space with hard bench and chair seating to the left and rear. The walls are a mix of exposed brick, plaster and dark wood panelling and have been decorated with traditional paintings, an old clock, brewery mirrors and other such beer-themed items. Towards the rear, a small carpeted snug-like space offers additional seating under pleasant wood panelled walls, one of which has a fine stained glass pane with a central grapevine image. A doorway to the left leads through to a separate restaurant area - a large carpeted space with lots of formal seating, some decent partitioning and lots more traditional pub decor. An alleyway in front of the pub has a few picnic benches, but I can’t imagine you get much sun out there. One off-putting feature was the truly dreadful 80’s pop soundtrack that was playing in the background, although I had picked a table which turned out to be beneath a speaker, so maybe I was suffering more than others.
I was given a warm greeting on arrival by the old-school, waistcoat barman, and had a choice of no less than five cask ales - Dartmoor Jail Ale and IPA, Exmoor Ale, Taylor Landlord and Butcombe Gold. I took a pint of the latter, which was in very good shape, and enjoyed supping it whilst watching people coming and going, including plenty of diners on this Friday lunchtime visit.
I thought this was a cracking little pub that was doing a good job of surviving through a popular food offering, whilst maintaining plenty of separate seating space for those who just want to come and sample the ale. There were lots of nice touches here that spoke of a well run operation and with only enough time to check out a couple of pubs during my fleeting visit to Torquay, I’m really glad this one made the cut.
On 24th March 2022
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about Hole in the Wall
Plausibly claims to be Torquay's oldest pub, featuring low ceilings, very traditional furniture / decor and an unusual cobbled floor around the 'l'-shaped bar (apparently listed). Also has a restaurant in the adjoining building. The choice from a total of eleven handpumps - including Otter Bitter, Butcombe Bitter and Gold (£3.80), Dartmoor Jail Ale, Landlord, Tribute, Doom Bar and a cider - may be mostly similar in style but you can see why it's Good Beer Guide listed, and it's certainly worth a visit if in town.
On 3rd June 2019
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about Hole in the Wall
Torquay’s only nationally-famous pub and it’s easy to see why. A historic pub (circa 1540 says the sign) tucked away off the main drag in a narrow side passage off a small road. The interior of the main bar and spur is a low-ceilinged warren of rooms, snugs, pew seating and wood panelling. To the left is a large restaurant. The worn cobbled flooring in the front bar is a bit of a feature. Inevitably, there’s plenty of nautical ephemera but as mentioned below not too much as to be chintzy. There’s also a decent collection of brewerania. I especially liked the press-gang cosh for the recruitment of staff. We took a seat in the hansom cab-esque alcove at the far right rear which was a nice place to relax and observe the goings-on. Plenty of ales available; Dartmoor Jail (good), Otter x2, Sheps Spitfire, Bays Topsail and Doom Bar with a couple off. Perhaps a little conservative? As noted elsewhere it’s far from the cheapest pint you’ll get locally but if an extra few pence is the price of keeping the place up-to-scratch, then I won’t argue. Background music was classic 70’s hits from the landlord’s ipod. Note that the pub is not child-friendly; this is one for grown-ups and curmudgeons only. Enjoyable place with plenty of character and good ale, well-worth stopping for.
On 27th July 2014
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about Hole In The Wall
Historic pub and Torquay's oldest (circa 1540) with plenty of character and charm.Ale Monsters fine review sums the pub up nicely and I cannot add much to it apart from I thought the nautical memorabilia was a good balance without going over the top.
This was our local for a week with our Hotel just a stones throw away.
On 30th June 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2318 recommendations about 2275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
BobOs . left this review about Hole In The Wall
Pleasant 'olde worlde' pub, full of character. An excellent range of beers and good (but very expensive) restaurant although the quality of the food is worth it. Tucked out of the way means it is less crowded than the pubs in the main street and the tourists tend not to discover it. Excellent descriptive review below by Ale Monster. Much better than average.
On 16th July 2011
- rating: 8
[User has posted 370 recommendations about 355 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ale Monster left this review about Hole In The Wall
This has got to be one of (if not) the best traditional pubs in Torquay, It was first opened as an Inn around 1540 and is therefore one of the oldest buildings in the town. It is currently a privately owned free house which also has a large restaurant attached. The interior is a single L shaped room with a large L shaped bar counter that has eleven hand pumps, there is an original cobbled floor, low beamed ceiling, wood panelling and settles with wooden models of 18th and 19th century Royal Navy sailing ships and early 20th century signs on the walls. At the back of the room is a fairly private alcove which I imagine was probably used by pirates and sailors when making dodgy deals. On the left of the room is the entrance to the large restaurant which I didn’t go in, but I did notice they advertise that it can seat up to seventy people. At the front of the pub is a narrow alley way with hanging baskets and benches.
Regular ales are Sharp’s Doom Bar, Shepherd Neame Spitfire, Butcombe Bitter, Otter Bitter and Bays Best with as many as five changing guest beers and a Real Cider. A couple of the guests that I noted were Bays Topsail, Teignworthy Reel Ale and Hunters Gold. I had four different halves, all of which were in good condition (GBG 2010). This place is not in the GBG 2011 which I think is a travesty!
A fantastic traditional pub with loads of character and a cosy feel, it is a little difficult to find as the pub is up a narrow side road and can’t be seen from the main street, but don’t let this deter you. I visited while on holiday but if I lived locally then I can promise you that I would definitely be a regular in this place. It is near to the harbour and the main high street so its convenient and well worth searching out.
On 25th October 2010
- rating: 10
[User has posted 199 recommendations about 199 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about Hole In The Wall
Lovely old pub this, great inside & nice yard drinking area. Just off the main shopping area, well worth a visit.
On 27th September 2009
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Nigel Sheppard left this review about Hole In The Wall
Torquay’s' number one pub for great real ales and fine dining. Recently extended into the adjoining restaurant it still maintains its original character whilst providing 4 real ales, perfectly served. Live acoustic music a few nights a week which is really very good and makes the night really enjoyable. The landlord and all his staff are really friendly and always make you feel at home.
On 1st June 2007
- rating: 10
[User has posted 192 recommendations about 192 pubs]