A town in Devon has received a damning review from a Tripadvisor user who said it makes Blackpool look like Heaven. Torquay on the English Riviera is described as a “dump” in the deeply negative review of the seaside town.
Posted under the name Peter G, the Tripadvisor review doesn’t pull any punches, saying: “Wow! What a dump. And people think Blackpool’s bad.
“Torquay is a dirty, rough, horrible nasty dump full of drug addicts and empty buildings. Undoubtedly the worst seaside town in England. Even the harbour was grotty”.
The review stands in stark contrast with how Torquay is described on englishriviera.co.uk which describes the resort as “a traditional yet thriving seaside town set on Devon’s English Riviera coast”.
The “quintessential bucket and spade resort” was also the top trending UK holiday destination in 2021, according to the travel website which lists the marina, Ansteys Cove, Princess Pier and Torre Abbey Sands as among Torquay’s highlights.
Tripadvisor users appear divided in their views of the town with some hailing Torquay’s beauty and others suggesting the place has gone downhill.
One Tripadvisor, commenting under the name Paul, wrote: “Torquay has become a nightmare… After a few years of going to Torquay in the 90s, I decided I wanted to move there as it was very beautiful. Loads to see and do and happy faces everywhere. The nightlife was fantastic for [families] of all ages. People were friendly and the atmosphere was electric.
“33 years have passed and well what can I say! Where’s the atmosphere gone and the happy people (other than the people drunk or on spice, drugs) the shops are slowly disappearing and is becoming a ghost town… Honestly the best thing I can say about Torquay is that I can leave almost straightaway. I have no desire to trundle in an empty town full of unhappy people that look as if they have walked off a set of The Walking Dead.”
Michael Johns wrote on his Tripadvisor review: “The harbour is full of drunks and is incredibly dirty. The town centre is horrific, full of drug addicts and empty shops”.
But Tripadvisor reviewer Romeo E hailed their visit, writing: “It was a good experience. The place was beautiful. It felt like we were somewhere in Monaco. The weather was perfect as well. Good and kind people around”.
Travelling Pixie from Adelaide, Australia, said of their visit: “Lovely area to walk through. We went in the big wheel for a bit of fun! Nice day out just wandering around the harbour and town centre”.
Annie20061 said in their review: “We had a walk around the harbour and watched the boats for a while. Peaceful and beautiful views. Clean and tidy harbour. We found it very relaxing”.
