The Imperial Torquay

The Imperial Torquay is a grand four-star hotel commanding a headland above the sea on the English Riviera, and it is one of the few hotels of its size and style in Torquay to welcome dogs at all. For owners who want a proper full-service hotel with a pool, sea views and traditional grandeur rather than a self-catering cottage, that alone makes it worth a look, and guests travelling with a dog consistently praise the setting: the location and the views over the bay are the standout.

It is worth going in with clear expectations, because dogs are accommodated on the hotel's terms rather than throughout. Dogs stay only in certain sea-facing or garden-level rooms, by prior arrangement and for an additional charge, and they are not permitted in the restaurant, bars or the leisure and pool areas. In practice several guests found they needed to book up to a larger, pricier room to bring two dogs, so factor the room type and the pet charge into your budget and contact the hotel before booking to confirm a suitable room is free.

The honest caveats are worth heeding. Guests staying in the dog rooms describe the garden access from them as steep and overgrown, which makes nipping out with a dog less convenient than you would hope, so most owners rely on the seafront and nearby walks instead. A couple also mentioned finding dog hair left in the room and service that did not quite match the grand surroundings. None of it stops the hotel being a characterful, view-rich base, but it is a place where the location does more of the heavy lifting than the dog-specific facilities.

The Imperial suits dog owners who want a grand seafront hotel in Torquay and are happy to walk their dog along the front rather than lean on the hotel's own outdoor space. Confirm the pet charge, the eligible room types and the number of dogs allowed when you book.