BearWest - SCENE GUIDE Torquay

T O R Q U A Y

Torquay has had a bit of a revival of late. Peter and Brendan moved in and completely transformed the Key West Resort to become the UK's ONLY fully gay resort and it seemed to kickstart Torquay into becoming something new. The Cliff House Hotel remodelled it's rooms, Come To Daddy came and went again and Bear Factory has kept the bear ngiths going, Torquay hosts the Pride Torbay weekend event which started in 2009 and also in 2009 the Bears In The Bay weekend started too. Even the main gay nightclub has undergone a transformation getting a new name and a new look. While Torquay will never be the centre of the gay World, it can no longer be associated with Twatty Flowers, I mean Faulty Towers, but it is fast becoming a terrific resort for a real gay getaway.

T H E S C E N E

Funky Monkey / Funky Monkey 2
Sci-fi, horror and retro store - says it all really, from the kitsch to the classic and now in two locations. The main store at 296, Union Street and now the latest outlet at the new Camden TQ1 Market. Check the website for more details and shop online too.
www.funkymonkeytorquay.com

Steamer Quay
Sauna, spa and bar, entry is £13 (but this includes your first drink) and locker deposit is £2 (returnable when you leave) and they only accept cash. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 10pm. Check the website for Bank Holiday times and details of their loyalty card scheme. The bar is listed as being open on Saturday only from 9pm to mindight.
www.steamerquay.com

Candy floss
Formerly Rocky's Club the new name and new look club still attracts a wide variety of ages and a mixed Gay clientel. Weekend "Flossing" is the name of the game after the bar closes at Key West or the Meadfoot Inn.
www.candyfloss-club-torquay.co.uk

Steps Bistro
Wide range of snacks through to main meals including locally caught fish dishes, homemade desserts, summer salads or just light bites. Open Tuesday to Saturday 12 noon to 2:30pm and then from 6pm for dinner. We've been there on a few occassions and the food and welcome has always been excellent.
www.stepsbistro.co.uk

Remix @ Bohemia
Monthly gay night on the Friday in the middle of the month! Apparently attracts a younger crowd (although we haven't tried it)
www.club-remix.co.uk

Harbour View
Fabulously laid back and brand new for Torquay. Gay run and with a musical theme running throughout - it's camp but not too over the top. Two floors and great view across the harbour from upstairs. Soon to be renamed "Broadway" - give it a go and you'll see why! We tried it and loved it. If you can't find it, give Simon or Karl a call on 01803 200726.

Hudson Hotel
Small (10 bedrooms) Gay friendly B&B, very close to the Harbour area in Torquay and also close to Torwood Gardens (as well as only being a short walk up the hill to Key West Resort if you're coming down for the Bears in the Bay weekend and Key West is full). Built in 1904, the building was renovated in 2004, retaining many of it's original features but being somewhat updated with a traditional but contemporary look.
www.hotelhudson.co.uk

Meadfoot Inn
Torquays longest running gay pub. very popular with the locals - now moved up the road with a very nice frontage! There are regular quiz, karaoke, bingo and disco nights and there's now "The Backroom" where you can get something hot inside you! The bar is open 7 days a week and The Backroom is open Thursday to Sunday - check all the details on their new website at the link below.
www.meadfoot.co.uk

Cliff House Hotel
Rooms from £70 per night (double), England's first Gay hotel which has been running since 1971. Recently refurbished to a good standard, room tariff includes full English breakfast and free wi-fi in all rooms. There's also "The Steam", which is open to non residents and open from 4pm to 10pm on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Cliff House Hotel was the UK's first Gay Hotel.
www.cliffhousehotel.co.uk

Key West Resort Torquay
Advertised as the UK's first (and currently only) Gay resort. Rates from £70 a night (standard double) and the tariff includes full English breakfast. The resort has a 42 foot swimming pool, the main bar open to residents and non residents. Downstairs you'll find the retro styled Tom's Cruise Bar which is open on special occassion and is available for private hire. There's also Daddyhole Sauna and Health Club, again open to non residents but there's no extra charge for entry if you are staying at the resort (apart from a small laundry fee for towels) open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm to 10pm (entry for non residents is £12).
www.keywesttorquay.co.uk

BEAR FACTORY
Deatils to be announced once dates and arrangements have been made, keep an eye on the Bear Factory website below.
www.bristolbearfactory.co.uk

Pride Torbay
Torquay also has an annual Pride weekend held in June each year - it involves all of the venues and clubs listed above and a whole lot more. The perfect way to start a Summer of Pride events! For 2011 BEAR FACTORY will have a big MEN ONLY party night at Key West with a fantastic themed music night "POP TARTS & DISCO DIVAS" a perfect blend of up to date chart remixes and classic disco party remixes.
www.pridetorbay.org

Bears In The Bay
Again started in 2009 Bears In The Bay is an annual event held the first weekend in September. Based mainly at the Key West resort, this event also looks to expand and get more venues involved in the future as it grows. It's a weekend made for men! PLUS there's now Bears In The Bay "Spring Break" - started in April (first weekend) 2011 this compliments the September event perfectly.
www.bearsinthebay.co.uk

M O R E I N D E V O N

NUMBER 3 - Gay Naturist B&B in the heart of Devon. Number 3 is situated only 5 minutes walk to the centre of Tiverton, surrounded by secluded, mature gardens, perfect to relax and unwind. They currently have a double room, and a new communal room if you don’t mind sharing with someone else!! (cheaper rate depending on how many you are sharing with). The front garden has a large summerhouse and pond, lawn area for sunbathing. Visit the website or contact Shaun or Ken direct on 01884 253823.
www.number3.co.uk

C O R N W A L L
A gay B&B on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Bungalow (so no stairs), can cater for all dietary requirments, naturist household so nudity inside and in the back garden is quite in order. Within easy reach of the gay nightlife of Plymouth and Torquay but located in a quiet hamlet just 2 miles from Liskeard, 10 miles from the coast and a nudist/gay beach and only an hour away from the far western end of England. Lot's to see and explore around the area too - Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project and several Country houses and gardens are also within easy reach.
www.brior.co.uk

Have you got a listing you'd like to see here? Send us the details and we'll get you on here as soon as we can.
There's more Scene Guides coming soon too, so contact us and see which towns are coming next.




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T O R Q U A Y Torquay has had a bit of a revival of late. Peter and Brendan moved in and completely transformed the Key West Resort to become the UK's ONLY fully gay resort and it seemed to kickstart Torquay into becoming something new. The Cliff House Hotel remodelled it's rooms, Come To Daddy came and went again and Bear Factory has kept the bear ngiths going, Torquay hosts the Pride Torbay weekend event which started in 2009 and also in 2009 the Bears In The Bay weekend started too. Even the main gay nightclub has undergone a transformation getting a new name and a new look. While Torquay will never be the centre of the gay World, it can no longer be associated with Twatty Flowers, I mean Faulty Towers, but it is fast becoming a terrific resort for a real gay getaway. T H E S C E N E Funky Monkey / Funky Monkey 2 Sci-fi, horror and retro store - says it all really, from the kitsch to the classic and now in two locations. The main store at 296, Union Street and now the latest outlet at the new Camden TQ1 Market. Check the website for more details and shop online too. www.funkymonkeytorquay.com Steamer Quay Sauna, spa and bar, entry is £13 (but this includes your first drink) and locker deposit is £2 (returnable when you leave) and they only accept cash. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 noon to 10pm. Check the website for Bank Holiday times and details of their loyalty card scheme. The bar is listed as being open on Saturday only from 9pm to mindight. www.steamerquay.com Candy floss Formerly Rocky's Club the new name and new look club still attracts a wide variety of ages and a mixed Gay clientel. Weekend "Flossing" is the name of the game after the bar closes at Key West or the Meadfoot Inn. www.candyfloss-club-torquay.co.uk Steps Bistro Wide range of snacks through to main meals including locally caught fish dishes, homemade desserts, summer salads or just light bites. Open Tuesday to Saturday 12 noon to 2:30pm and then from 6pm for dinner. We've been there on a few occassions and the food and welcome has always been excellent. www.stepsbistro.co.uk Remix @ Bohemia Monthly gay night on the Friday in the middle of the month! Apparently attracts a younger crowd (although we haven't tried it) www.club-remix.co.uk Harbour View Fabulously laid back and brand new for Torquay. Gay run and with a musical theme running throughout - it's camp but not too over the top. Two floors and great view across the harbour from upstairs. Soon to be renamed "Broadway" - give it a go and you'll see why! We tried it and loved it. If you can't find it, give Simon or Karl a call on 01803 200726. Hudson Hotel Small (10 bedrooms) Gay friendly B&B, very close to the Harbour area in Torquay and also close to Torwood Gardens (as well as only being a short walk up the hill to Key West Resort if you're coming down for the Bears in the Bay weekend and Key West is full). Built in 1904, the building was renovated in 2004, retaining many of it's original features but being somewhat updated with a traditional but contemporary look. www.hotelhudson.co.uk Meadfoot Inn Torquays longest running gay pub. very popular with the locals - now moved up the road with a very nice frontage! There are regular quiz, karaoke, bingo and disco nights and there's now "The Backroom" where you can get something hot inside you! The bar is open 7 days a week and The Backroom is open Thursday to Sunday - check all the details on their new website at the link below. www.meadfoot.co.uk Cliff House Hotel Rooms from £70 per night (double), England's first Gay hotel which has been running since 1971. Recently refurbished to a good standard, room tariff includes full English breakfast and free wi-fi in all rooms. There's also "The Steam", which is open to non residents and open from 4pm to 10pm on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Cliff House Hotel was the UK's first Gay Hotel. www.cliffhousehotel.co.uk Key West Resort Torquay Advertised as the UK's first (and currently only) Gay resort. Rates from £70 a night (standard double) and the tariff includes full English breakfast. The resort has a 42 foot swimming pool, the main bar open to residents and non residents. Downstairs you'll find the retro styled Tom's Cruise Bar which is open on special occassion and is available for private hire. There's also Daddyhole Sauna and Health Club, again open to non residents but there's no extra charge for entry if you are staying at the resort (apart from a small laundry fee for towels) open Wednesday to Sunday from 2pm to 10pm (entry for non residents is £12). www.keywesttorquay.co.uk BEAR FACTORY Deatils to be announced once dates and arrangements have been made, keep an eye on the Bear Factory website below. www.bristolbearfactory.co.uk Pride Torbay Torquay also has an annual Pride weekend held in June each year - it involves all of the venues and clubs listed above and a whole lot more. The perfect way to start a Summer of Pride events! For 2011 BEAR FACTORY will have a big MEN ONLY party night at Key West with a fantastic themed music night "POP TARTS & DISCO DIVAS" a perfect blend of up to date chart remixes and classic disco party remixes. www.pridetorbay.org Bears In The Bay Again started in 2009 Bears In The Bay is an annual event held the first weekend in September. Based mainly at the Key West resort, this event also looks to expand and get more venues involved in the future as it grows. It's a weekend made for men! PLUS there's now Bears In The Bay "Spring Break" - started in April (first weekend) 2011 this compliments the September event perfectly. www.bearsinthebay.co.uk M O R E I N D E V O N NUMBER 3 - Gay Naturist B&B in the heart of Devon. Number 3 is situated only 5 minutes walk to the centre of Tiverton, surrounded by secluded, mature gardens, perfect to relax and unwind. They currently have a double room, and a new communal room if you don’t mind sharing with someone else!! (cheaper rate depending on how many you are sharing with). The front garden has a large summerhouse and pond, lawn area for sunbathing. Visit the website or contact Shaun or Ken direct on 01884 253823. www.number3.co.uk C O R N W A L L A gay B&B on the edge of Bodmin Moor. Bungalow (so no stairs), can cater for all dietary requirments, naturist household so nudity inside and in the back garden is quite in order. Within easy reach of the gay nightlife of Plymouth and Torquay but located in a quiet hamlet just 2 miles from Liskeard, 10 miles from the coast and a nudist/gay beach and only an hour away from the far western end of England. Lot's to see and explore around the area too - Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project and several Country houses and gardens are also within easy reach. www.brior.co.uk Have you got a listing you'd like to see here? Send us the details and we'll get you on here as soon as we can. There's more Scene Guides coming soon too, so contact us and see which towns are coming next.