Torbay Weekly Rewind: What made the news in February

February’s biggest headlines reflected a Bay caught between reinvention and remembrance.

Torquay’s new 1,200-capacity Arena Torquay unveiled its first line-up of acts, marking a major moment for the local arts scene. With music, comedy and theatre all on the bill, the venue was hailed as a long-awaited cultural hub, signalling Torbay’s growing confidence on the live entertainment map.

At the same time, readers were drawn to a deep dive into Torquay’s past. A nostalgia-led feature on the long-lost Torquay Marine Spa at Beacon Quay proved hugely popular, with striking archive images from Torquay Museum offering a rare glimpse inside the Victorian-era swimming and entertainment complex. The story explored not only its grandeur but also the serious accidents that ultimately led to its closure and demolition, reigniting interest in the town’s seaside heritage.

Torquay’s oldest pub, The Hole in the Wall, faced serious risk of closure in February, with the venue warning it had until mid-April to resolve financial difficulties. Rising supplier costs and prolonged roadworks along The Strand had put significant pressure on the historic pub, prompting concern from locals and sparking conversations online about the challenges facing independent businesses in the town centre.

This is part of our Torbay Weekly Rewind series, looking back at the key stories from each month over the past year. Missed a month? Explore our other monthly rewinds here, with more to come:

- December 2024: HERE

- January 2025: HERE