Watersports and cafe plan for Agatha Christie beach

Public access will be guaranteed

A new cafe and watersports outlet could be built on a secluded Torquay cove known as ‘the locals’ beach’.

And public access to the much-loved beach is guaranteed.

As a regular swimmer there 100 years ago when it was known as the Ladies’ Bathing Cove, Agatha Christie said Beacon Cove was one of her favourite places.

In its heyday in the fifties and sixties, the sheltered beach had its own cafe and was thronged every summer.

Since then, though, it has fallen from favour and has been referred to as ‘Asbo Beach’ as a result of the increasing amount of anti-social behaviour, from drugs to drink and vandalism.

There were bonfires and late-night parties, but worried local volunteers helped the council to keep the area litter-free. A locking gate was later installed.

Now Torbay Council is looking to give the hard-to-access beach a new lease of life.

It has advertised its intention to lease out 15 square metres of land at the cove. The area runs from the sea wall alongside the former Living Coasts site and takes in the concrete hard standing area across to the other side of the beach.

The concrete steps and the shingle beach are not part of the offer.

The council’s announcement says the land is currently used for public recreation.

It goes on: “The intended lease is for the purposes of a new business to operate a cafeteria and watersports venture.”

The land will be available on a long lease.

A council spokesman added: “Torbay Council is hoping to attract a catering concession and watersports hiring rights business to Beacon Cove beach.

“The potential granting of a lease will not prevent the general public accessing this area, and the loss of open space….is purely in relation to the physical location of the catering concession.

“The remainder of the cove will remain open to the public.”

But one objector said: “That’s our beach!

“It’s the locals’ beach and it’s in all our hearts. The council can’t be giving that away.”

The council’s website describes Beacon Cove as ‘a perfect haven away from the main beach of Torquay’. It says there is a small promenade above a tiny shingle beach, and its sheltered position makes it a warm and sunny spot even out of season. 

The beach was at the centre of a planning wrangle in 2021 when permission was given for five luxury ‘beach huts’ and a kiosk. The Torbay Heritage Trust referred the decision to the local government ombudsman, but its objections were overruled.

The Hemel Hempstead Property Company has permission for a crescent-shaped terrace of five holiday apartments and a retail kiosk at the base of the hillside facing towards the sea.

Each apartment has a living area with kitchenette and toilet on the ground floor, with bedrooms on a mezzanine level. The plans include restoring and extending a disused footpath at the rear leading to Beacon Hill. 

The council is also offering a long lease on a 66-square-metre piece of land at Abbey Park off Belgrave Road, alongside what used to be the One World Cafe until it closed several years ago.

The lease in this case is for the ‘continued operation of a public cafe and toilets’.

Any objections to either offer must be made in writing to the council’s estates officer by Wednesday 3 April.