Torquay – Hole in the Wall
These photos from the dying days of my last phone really are terrible, but there we go….. This pub has received some national attention recently as it’s Good Beer Guide listed, but as things stand, it’s going to close in a few weeks. We were told by a customer in the previous pub that this was its last night of opening, but that appears to have rather jumped the gun somewhat as it doesn’t close until April. They put on Facebook:
“As many of you are already aware, the pub has been going through some financial difficulties recently, putting us at serious risk of closure. We have been given until mid April to get our affairs in order so we will hopefully, at the very least, be trading as normal until then. Many thanks for your patience and understanding, we hope to see you soon!”
One of the issues perhaps linked to that is that the venue can only take cash payments at the moment, but they helpfully alerted us to that on the front door which led to a trek around Torquay looking for cash machines. Unfortunately, the big bank buildings we walked by to return to the main street have mostly closed which made this into more of an expedition than we had anticipated.
Some of the offers are visible and this is a large venue with a separate restaurant and bar area. Although the Devon Arms next door has a different opinion, it’s thought that this is the oldest pub in Torquay and it’s in the heart of the old harbour area. The pub give themselves an opening date of around 1540, although there’s not any factual evidence to prove this exact date, but it is definitely quite old.
In June 1905, the Torquay Times noted:
“In Exeter, within living memory, there was a public house called “The Hole in the Wall” as we have here in Torquay. Our local inn, bearing this quaint name, dates from a very ancient time, as did the one at Exeter, and Torquay people know its position, on the left of the steps running to Park Street from the Queen’s Hotel. It is evident that there were other taverns dignified with the same title, and how a tavern received such a peculiar sign-board, may be gathered from a quotation from Bishop’s “Brighton in the Olden Time,” with reference to an old inn which was called “The King and Queen.” a peculiarity of which was, that it possessed a “hole in the wall.” Bishop, in the work just quoted, says: “The King and Queen” was never a soldiers’ house; but it is probable that in the early part of the century it took more money from soldiers than any other house in the town. ‘Stolen kisses’ are said to be the sweetest, and, on the same principle, the connection between soldiery and ‘The King and Queen’ being a secret, libations were, probably, the more indulged in. The fact is, there was a small “hole in the wall” which separated the barracks yard (formerly at the bottom of Church Street) from the back of the ‘King and Queen!’ and though this, on a given signal, liquor used to be passed in any quantity. The hole had been there from time immemorial. It was about ten inches square, and on ‘The King and Queen’ side was covered by an iron door, and is said to be seen, even now (1902), in the present pantry of the hotel, which was formerly the ‘tap’ cellar. The hole doubtless owed its origin to some thirsty inventive genius. There was only a wall between him and his beer, and, happy thought! if he could not get the latter over the wall, he, at least, might get some through it! But ‘the best laid schemes o’ mice and men gang aft angley.’ Whether the secret was “blown,” or other causes militated against the hole in the wall, at least on the barracks side, was effectually closed some time previous to the barracks being removed.”
Even in 1905 they thought that the name was quaint.
The front yard, no doubt a pleasant seating area in the warmer summer months.
The service was friendly and immediate, with the team member alerting us in advance that they were only accepting cash, although their signage was evident to minimise any issues. There were three real ales available, the Ferryman from Exeter Brewery and the Dartmoor IPA and Jail Ale from Dartmoor Brewery. There were also pickled onions on the bar, something which should be more commonplace in pubs.
Vaping, not dancing…. As can be noted from this video, there was some live music going on when we were there and although that doesn’t normally excite me, it seems to be in keeping with the pub’s character and atmosphere. The pub was busy when we visited and we were lucky to slide into this table, and slide was what I had to do to get in. There was plenty of decoration on the walls, including some guns, as is visible in the above photo. There are tales of smugglers using this pub over the centuries and it had that feel of a traditional coaching inn where exactly that sort of behaviour would have taken place.
Ross went for Staropramen, which was one of his more sensible decisions, and I went for the Dartmoor IPA from Dartmoor Brewery. This was a rather decent beer, smooth and full bodied, with a depth of flavour.
The menu and the prices were reasonable given the location that we were in.
I liked this pub with its cobbled floors and it had the most traditional feel of any of the pubs that we visited, the only one which actually felt like an authentic coastal pub as some of the other venues were just generic sports bars that could have been located anywhere. Its presence in the Good Beer Guide seems most justified to me and it’s concerning for the residents of Torquay, and indeed on a much wider basis, that this pub might be closing soon.
