Anchorage Hotel & Spa

The Anchorage Hotel and Spa sits in Babbacombe, on the quieter cliff-top side of Torquay, and it is one of those seaside hotels where the dog is simply part of the party rather than something to be negotiated. Dogs stay in the rooms, come along to the front breakfast area, and are welcome in the outdoor seating space where guests sit with a drink.

The charge is small and clearly stated at GBP 5 per night, which is at the friendly end for the English Riviera. Guests travelling with dogs pick out the same practical advantages again and again: the beach and the Model Village are a couple of minutes on foot, there is park and garden space within an easy walk, and there is enough outdoor room to let a dog stretch its legs after a long drive. Parties arriving with two dogs have had no difficulty, and the front-of-house team earns warm mentions from dog owners for being genuinely helpful rather than merely tolerant.

The honest caveat is the building rather than the welcome. This is an older hotel carrying a lot of guests, and dog owners and other visitors alike report tired carpets, rooms that do not always smell fresh, and housekeeping that can slip over a longer stay, with beds left unmade and bins not emptied. There is a practical consequence for dog owners: airing out a stuffy room is awkward when there is nowhere safe to open a window with a dog loose inside, so it is worth asking about room position when you book. Because dogs are allowed throughout the building rather than in a dedicated wing, guests without pets sometimes find evenings noisier, the flip side being that your own dog is not shut away from anything.

Parking on site is limited, although street parking around the hotel is free. The Anchorage suits dog owners who want an affordable Torquay base with the coast and beach within walking distance, a low pet fee and no fuss about where the dog can go, and who are happy with a well-used seaside hotel rather than a polished one. On that balance it earns a 4.1/5 paw rating.