Cherished Torquay beach café closed with questions over reopening

Babbacombe Beach Cafe, situated by the Cary Arms and a beach that's dog-friendly all year round
Babbacombe Beach Cafe, situated by the Cary Arms and a beach that's dog-friendly all year round -Credit:submitted


Former beach café owners in Torquay have thanked their "amazing" customers after confirming they will no longer be operating the popular business. Babbacombe Beach Cafe, one of the longest established in the town, is currently shut.

There is uncertainty about its future but Torbay Council says it will open again. Rosie Bennett and Hollie Newbold, who ran the business last year, say they had to move on due to 'complications with the ownership of the lease'.

Rosie said: "It was amazing we managed to create such a place. It feels like we did a wonderful thing and loved doing it and it is such a shame it is now empty.

Hollie Newbold and Rosie Bennett
Hollie Newbold and Rosie Bennett -Credit:submitted

"We won't be running it this year. We had amazing support and saw the value the place has and the community's love for it. Sadly it isn't in our ownership this year."

The beach cafe is a prized asset in the community. It enjoys a bustling trade selling coffees, ice-creams and snacks at one of the Torquay's most cherished beauty spots.

Rosie and Hollie put “everything they have” into their business when agreeing a lease in 2023. They created a seafront community hub at the cafe with a relaxed family-friendly vibe. Both shared the expertise in watersports and had ambitious plans to expand that side of the venture.

"We had a great season," says Rosie. "I want to stress how much we loved the beach there and didn't want to leave. It's a shame to see a valuable site left empty. The locals were wonderful to us."

The cafe, situated near the privately-run Cary Arms and Spa luxury resort, was due to open again on May 1. The site is owned by Torbay Council. The council has confirmed to DevonLive that it expects the café to reopen this summer but cannot say when or who will run it.