The Buccaneer Inn
A Gem on the Downs the beer garden at this pub offers truly breathtaking views, making it our top choice among the three on the downs. It's the perfect spot to relax and soak in the vibrant activity across the landscape, while also enjoying sweeping vistas of the bay. You can't help but feel a sense of pride in this beautiful part of England!
The staff are wonderfully friendly, welcoming, happy, and fun, creating a fantastic atmosphere. Both the interior and exterior boast lovely decor, adding to the charm.
They have an excellent selection of beers, ciders, and ales on tap. I really enjoyed my pint of Tribute and Thatchers Gold, along with some pork scratchings. The food looked delicious too! This pub truly embodies what a great pub should be.
P&P
Background......
From Victorian Villa to Beloved Local: A History of the Buccaneer Inn, Babbacombe
Nestled on the picturesque Babbacombe Downs, the Buccaneer Inn at 43 Babbacombe Downs Road boasts a rich history that mirrors the development of this popular Torquay resort. While its current swashbuckling name is a more recent incarnation, the building itself dates back to the Victorian era, having stood witness to over a century of change on this stunning clifftop promenade.
The story of the Buccaneer Inn begins with the transformation of Babbacombe Downs into a fashionable destination in the mid-19th century. Between 1860 and 1880, the area was developed with a series of elegant villas and hotels designed to attract wealthy visitors. The building now housing the Buccaneer Inn was one such property, likely constructed as a private residence or a guest house to cater to the burgeoning tourist trade. Its architecture and location are characteristic of the period, offering residents and guests breathtaking views across Lyme Bay.
Intriguingly, the adjacent property, now known as 'The Downs Babbacombe' at 41-43 Babbacombe Downs Road, was formerly 'The Downs Hotel' and is believed to have been built by Isaac Singer, the famous sewing machine magnate, around 1850. This suggests a similar prestigious origin and timeline for the building that would become the Buccaneer Inn.
For much of its life, the property likely served as a guest house or private hotel, its name lost to time through the course of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a common practice for such establishments to change names with new ownership.
The transition to a public house and its christening as the "Buccaneer Inn" occurred at a later, though not precisely documented, date. The inn is now a well-established part of the St Austell Brewery's portfolio of pubs across the South West. While the exact year of acquisition by the brewery is not public knowledge, it has been a tenanted pub for a significant period.
In more recent history, company records indicate that a firm by the name of "THE BUCCANEER INN (BABBACOMBE) LTD" was incorporated in 2010, with directors appointed in 2010 and 2011, suggesting a change in management during that time.
A new chapter for the Buccaneer Inn began in February 2021 when the current licensees, Tom Carter and Deb Lewin, took over the tenancy from St Austell Brewery. Their arrival was noted by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), which recorded a change of licensees on February 14, 2022.
Today, the Buccaneer Inn remains a popular and welcoming public house, cherished by locals and visitors alike for its traditional charm, quality ales, and, of course, its unbeatable panoramic sea views from its position on the historic Babbacombe Downs. It stands as a proud testament to the area's Victorian seaside heritage, successfully navigating the currents of time to remain a beloved local landmark.
