The Downs Hotel

The Downs, Babbacombe is owned by us - Kate & Ed Wood. We live on site to the rear of the building. In my late teens I travelled extensively and lived in Europe and the Middle East. Upon returning to the UK - and Ed - I was Sales Manager for a computer firm in Birmingham. Both Ed and I are involved in all areas of the business but I do all of the cooking.

We are family run, seafront guest accommodation offering bed and breakfast, optional evening meals and a fully stocked bar open to both residents and the public, with a seasonal forecourt cafe. We have been independently graded as 4 Star Guest Accommodation by the AA with a Gold accolade. For our commitment to excellence we have also been awarded a Breakfast and Dinner Award from the AA.

We are set in a short Victorian terrace believed to have been built by Isaac Singer, of Singer sewing machine fame, c.1850. Babbacombe Downs is a long stretch of common land, with the highest promenade in the country and sweeping wooded cliffs to the beaches of Oddicombe and Babbacombe below. To make the journey down to the beach at Oddicombe you have the gentle alternative of travelling the 240 feet down on the cliff railway, which has been operating since 1926.Babbacombe is a village within the town of Torquay which is often referred to as the 'Jewel in Torquay's crown'.

Whilst it has always been our aim here at The Downs to make your stay as comfortable as possible, we feel it is very important we seek advice and guidance from recognised experts, and as such we have chosen to be affilliated with the AA. We were affilliated with and VisitEngland until 2019, but have made the decision it is no longer commercially viable to be so with them based on the benefits that organisation gives us. This is an annual award that is only given to the top 100 quality assessed establishments in the whole of the UK.

Our aim here at The Downs is to ensure you have a lovely stay. We have thought long and hard about everything we do, so if you have any questions not covered below please ask us before booking. Our aim from the outset has been to offer a high standard of accommodation with a personal level of service.