Anchorage Hotel & Spa

The Anchorage Hotel and Spa sits in Babbacombe, on the quieter cliff-top side of Torquay, and it is one of those big, old-fashioned seaside hotels where the dog is simply part of the party. Dogs stay in the rooms, can come with you to breakfast in the front area, and are welcome in the large outdoor seating space where guests gather for a drink.

The charge is small at £5 per night, at the friendly end for the English Riviera. Guests travelling with dogs keep coming back to the same advantages: the downs and a park are close by, Babbacombe's beaches and the Model Village are a few minutes on foot, and there is plenty of outdoor room for a dog after a long drive. Parties with two dogs have had no trouble, and the staff get warm words from dog owners for being genuinely helpful. There is also a spa with a small pool and saunas, evening entertainment and a coffee booth for snacks.

The caveat is the building rather than the welcome. This is an older, busy hotel, and dog owners and other guests alike report tired carpets, rooms that do not always smell fresh, and housekeeping that can slip, with beds left unmade and bins not emptied. Airing a stuffy room is awkward with a dog loose inside, so ask about room position when you book. Some parts of the building have no lift and plenty of stairs.

Because dogs are allowed throughout rather than in one wing, nights can be noisy: guests have been woken early by dogs crying and barking in neighbouring rooms, and those travelling without pets sometimes find that hard going. The flip side is that your own dog is not shut away from anything.

Parking on site is limited, though street parking nearby is free. The Anchorage suits dog owners who want an affordable Torquay base with the coast close by, a low pet fee and no fuss about where the dog can go, and who are happy with a well-used seaside hotel rather than a polished one. It earns a 4.1/5 paw rating.