Talk of the Town in Torbay

Huge place with people sitting in there for hours slowly supping their pints. We were asked not to play games and I’m leaving. Someone tried to start a fight with us. There is cheap though.

Since last year's refubishment and small extension, the food and the service were both very good, bar service via JDW app was fantastic. Something about the atmosphere on a Saturday evening didn't feel right, but on Friday it was fine? BTW Managment need to check the toilets as the gents were disgusting, and the idiot that redesigned them should be shot at dawn. Narrow Privacy Walls would be great for a child!

It's hard to find a place to eat after evening theatre. Wetherspoon ticks the box. There's nothing wrong with a Wetherspoon and it is what it is. You get what you pay for. Excellent value and range of real ales in this freehouse, often featuring in the Good Beer Guide. TIM Martin, please consider taking on the Torquay Pavilion. You did it in Ramsgate for the 11000 square foot Royal Pavilion. Would Torquay then become the biggest Wetherspoon and equally successful? 🇬🇧🇳🇿

Busy and multi level 'Spoons which has a good breakfast trade of tourists and builders. Points away for all the coffee machines being in one place, especially as only 1 of the 4 was working during our visit, so the queue was enormous. That said a young crew were busy delivering both food and drinks. I know that this was refurbed earlier in 2024 but it still has the look of an older type of 'Spoons, with wood panels and nooks.

Had the 3 snacks for 7.49 all good, and a nice pint of guiness for lunch. Bargain and quick service considering how busy it was

Great atmosphere and friendly staff.

Enjoyed a lovely meal with the family, service was friendly too. Would recommend.

Did not have food, but there were a lot of people eating and it did look appetising. Staff friendly cleared tables as soon as someone left, always about clearing glasses from tables, well done! As you do not see this everywhere good staff training 👏 please come to Wales to show how a good spoons should be run!!!

Excellent food. Although I had a problem ordering due to wanting small fish and chips other than large fish and chips. This was sorted.

Lost its atmosphere. Since refurbishment just people. With papers and endless cups of coffee. Taking up table space. For paying customers who want to eat.

Good food very happy place to be

Not allowed to take bottled beers outside unless in a glass. Says it all really

Gets quite busy in the summer months. The food and drinks are cheap and average quality. Since refurb seems they are overstretched with regular large queues and difficulties finding a clean table.

Buttergate!!! Come here quite often cheap and cheerful breakfast, however, just recently they’ve had a clampdown on butter, one tiny slither for your toast instead of the usual two!!! When I asked for some more i was met with raised eyebrows and shaking heads!! come on weatherspoons there are tables full of ketchup majo vinegar etc free to use as much as you want what’s the thing with butter? It’s now hidden away and takes a lot of pleading to get an extra piece!!!!! Very disappointed.

It's a cheap place for good and drinks. However, do not like cameras inside the toilets. Yes, they may be fixed, but they are facing mirrors?!!

Good food Good fast Service well run

First time of being in the place since the upgrade. An amazing place and great Vale, decent food and deals as well.

I love this spoons in paington . The staff are all brilliant

The lott of think l like with weather spoon well done for opening back up l love what you done to the pub and well done to the manager and the staff all the people l like well done in the job mr David Clarke xx sending you a love wen it was chut for a well miss you all the staff and the manager l am verry happy it is back open now thank you for doing it all up in the pub lott better just to say big thanks you to the staff and the manager has well for doing a verry good job well done

Had a bowl of ramen. Was huge. Didn't bring drinks over till we almost finished our food. It's wetherspoons. You get what you pay for. I know !!!

Quick service, but found hair in samosa

Only called in for a quick dry. Lovely and clean inside.

The food was okay, typical Wetherspoons food. However, when mine and my partner’s food was delivered, I noticed my fork was dirty. When our friends’ drinks were delivered, I asked the lady who delivered them if she could please get me a new fork, and she genuinely looked at me like I’d crapped up her walls. She took my fork and said absolutely nothing, then I saw her speaking to other tables further into the restaurant. My friend got up and grabbed me a fork in the end, otherwise I would’ve had to have stuck my face into my eggs benedict and hope I didn’t aspirate it.

We always go into this pub,every time we go to Torquay,always busy but nice atmosphere, only went in for coffee's,staff always very efficient when clearing the tables.

It was raining on Sunday when we visited,so was quite busy,people escaping the weather.we had chicken,bacon wrap was OK taste but as for presentation ,I still think you a bif of garnish.we had coffee,first coffee barely warm was told to use next machine ,which was serving the coffee warm.there were couple of people serving food and cleaning tables but there only appeared to be one girl behind bar which was busy ,I was in queue a good 10 minutes. I think the atmosphere felt a bit and rushing around more to do with weather.

Me and my friend's went to Paignton for a weekend and we visited the talk of the town, and was very good atmosphere,we will visit again,next year

Very good all round food drink service price attmesfer cated for children

Cheap beer but slow service under staffing need a separate place for orders of food

typical Wetherspoons with all the expected strengths and weaknesses. Too small for the number of prospective customers not very good for big parties as the tables are not easily moved together. Drinks app service much quicker than Torquay where it can take 20 minutes. Toilets miles away up two flights of stairs. Review update after refurbishment. It's horrible. It's basically a warehouse. Not recommended at all. Review update number 2. Condiments are always empty staff are often scruffy and of poor quality

Usual Witherspoon pub which is nearly always busy. The staff are very helpful and friendly despite being very busy most of the time.

Food and service excellent but all was spoiled because of a table of 2 females and 1 male and young child who never stopped crying. The adults in the end took in turns taking young child out of building walking it up and down for 5mins at a time and while this was going on the adults were still able to order on their app beer and wine. There was no consideration for other people many who were diners having to put up with constant child crying like what happened today. I have been in other wetherspoons where only 2drinks were allowed per person where children were present. Why on earth was this allowed to go on for amount of time that it did??? We come out to have drink something to eat relax and enjoy and NOT to be feeling we sat in a kinder garden and just for the record I do have children but wouldn't expect others to put up with what's gone on today. Plus should you really be supplying people with alcohol that are responsible for very young babies

i recently visited this establishment in a lovely monday evening, i was arriving after a long days work and was quenching for a drink. i ordered a humble vodka and lemonade but once it arrived to my table, i was refused service as my accompanied friends could not provide identification however i am 18. furthermore i was denied the possibility of a refund and am definitely not going to return to this public house.

Busy and well cared for pub, recently extended. Food is typical, not mega quality, however perfectly decent at sensible prices. Just wish they would put jail ale back on.....

Another decent Spoons, although the service at the bar is probably above average here, the Pilot Gig ale was lovely too

Spoons is Spoons, you know what your getting. Dropped in here for a couple of beers of which there was a good selection, plenty of seats and a small beer garden. Historical place with lots of framed pictures and articles about the building.

Has breakfast this morning, ham egg & chips lady night. Good service, the staff worked hard serving, cleaning tables & delivering drinks. The new extension is nice & tables & chairs looked nice, will come again for another meal. Thank you staff

Good food, good prices and very busy!

Typical wetherspoons, good value breakfast, toilets a million miles away.

Terrible service, staff rude and very unwelcoming. It was very quiet and the tables were left covered in dirty plates and glasses. Staff stood around. For a place that has had a lot of money spent in a refurbishment it is already dirty.

It's a relatively new Wetherspoons. What more can I add?

Food was cold only the tea was hot. Told a server all he could say I willǰķmm

Tasty food. Polite and efficient staff.

Bit disappointed at this visit, my friend had Ham, egg and chips, eggs were like rubber. She did complain and they were quick to bring 2 fresh ones. I had Burger 🍔 which was lovely. Staff very friendly and efficient 😁😁

Sat across the street beside the harbour, lovely staff ⚕️

Like every other Weatherspoons, good value food and drink

Fastest service of any Spoons ever, on a day that was packed out as well.

Fast service, food good, hot and served guickly. Tables need to be cleared quicker.

Very busy on a Saturday night in September. Ham egg and chips was sub par with the egg being rock hard and the ham chewy. The staff are working very hard to serve everyone in this packed pub.

Great pub for a quick cheap bite and drink!

nice place didn't try the food but it looked good and others seemed to enjoy, i tried two different ales and didn't really enjoy either.

Went to the pub solo to socialise and get to know people and got kicked out for apparently being too drunk even though I never even bought any alcohol and just drink water.

It may have had a refurb but It's still just your bog standard Spoons.. wouldn't rate the cleanliness either tbh.

Good food, great service & very friendly staff 👍

Good food but can get very busy so occasionally it's hard to get a table

In fairness it's a bit more than OK. Problem is it's still hit and miss. Long queues at the bar sometimes, other times served straight away. Sometimes like crazy mad, other times good and relaxed. I won't bad mouth this place, because dispite the occasional problem.... It's still a good place to go. Comfortable and friendly. Good value Wetherspoon. Recently been enlarged, now more room as knocked through to the premises nextdoor.

My wife ordered fish and chips and a ordered a burger. Fish overcooked and dry, batter was mostly inedible. The burger comprised of 3 patties in a bun with cheese and bacon. The patties were all like biscuits. I could not eat them. I complained to a member of staff about the food, her response was "we have been very busy" and then walked away. I asked another member of staff if I could see the manager and was told the manager was not available. The first and last time we will ever go to this Weatherspoons.

Went in for a drink ,nice friendly place , service spot on

great alcahol prices and good value for money on food .

Very busy, with lots of seating available, Food was quick and OK.

Absolutely minging Waited to be served whilst people who came in after me where served first When I was spoken to it was to be told to move to the other end of the bar, upon saying I had been waiting for too long they served me a drink that was over priced and all the available tables where littered in food scraps, we won't mention the floor. Photo is of my table that was the cleanest.

Since the refurbishment of this pub the customer service has gone downhill. Went in for drinks waited at the bar for 15 minutes to get served as approx 12 people in queue only 1 person serving.Another server appeared about 10 minutes later and was on her headset trying to get more staff without success. Tables were not being cleared 2 tables behind us were left for almost an hour.Staff seem to be walking about not achieving anything.There was 1 manager on and she appeared to be the only 1 doing any work. App orders for drinks were left on the bar and 3 people came to see where their drinks were.At 1 point there were about 6 orders on the bar. Managers dont seem able to contol what is going on,its a shame as the refurb is good. Every time you go in there are new staff on they dont seem able to keep staff. Suggest get an Area Manager to go in and sit and watch for a couple of hours and sort the staff out.

The staff were very slow and not very helpful Had to clean own table up Food and cutlery on floor infront of kitchen hatch

This is the best place to visit. We have a tradition of visiting once every three weeks with the family. There was a case when I ordered a burger, and it was without lettuce and tomato. Very polite staff immediately replaced my dish. I am very grateful for their work. The main thing is that it is cheap and tasty, I definitely recommend being here.

Food was like someone had cooked it the week before in a house fire then sat on the following week to warm it up dry bland and deadly if you used it as a weapon

As a local resident I would highly recommend this venue good for food , chat and atmosphere for all locals , holiday makers young and old a substantial range of drinks and food is readily available 👍

Limited food available at lunch time even though the place was quite.

Party of 6, pint of beer - the head was so big when it settled. The beer was 12mm short of the top of glass. If you pay for a pint, you expect to get a pint!! One of the meals was a beef curry£12 +, there were 4 bits of meat in the dish, and the sauce was so little it didn't even cover the meat. Complained, saying it must only be a childs portion and sent it back. Waiter( who was a very nice lad and very apologetic also agreed it was too small) brought it back saying the kitchen said it was a normal portion? Son didn't want to make a fuss because of spoiling the family meal on his last day of visiting before returning home that evening. Wife complained to the manager when we left, who really just said sorry we didn't enjoy our visit but offered no alternative. Purhaps with it being summertime with so many customers, he couldn't be bothered? Wintertime might be a bit different if that is the attitude taken and they get fewer customers!! Won't be in a rush to go back if that's the attitude.

Has been extensively refurbished and is excellent

Main complaint was lots of dirty tables that had not been cleared , we had to ask a server to clean the table. Lack of staff possibly.

I ordered egg benedict fir breakfast . The eggs were hard so the waitress said she'd get it redone . The 2nd plate arrived and the eggs were hard ! She insisted I try again and when the 3rd plate arrived . Guess what ? The eggs were hard! I was refunded and ordered a traditional English breakfast instead and the egg was runny .. yay !

Usually fast service food is good and at a great price 😋

Typical weatherspoons. But it does offer outside seating on the pavement

Decent Wetherspoons. Well cooked food at value prices.

Nice pub. Plenty of space. Good food and drink at good prices. Quick service

It’s a Weatherspoons, so you know what you are going to get. Food and drink was on point and reasonably priced - staff were good. It did feel like a school food hall with the layout, but again - this is the compromise you have to accept for cheap eats and drink. I was really impressed with how the staff responded to an issue - our pizzas arrived with wrong toppings, we informed a bar staff and he promptly got it sorted and we had new pizzas swiftly. I get issues happen, that’s life, it how they are resolved which is the test - and they passed with flying colours. The thing that tainted our experience wasn’t actually anything to do with the pub, it was peoples lack of control of their children - 2 families let their children sit on their own table and literally high pitch screech and scream the whole time.

Recently renewed,basic Wetherspoons, but the service was unbelievably fast considering how busy it was

The Talk of the Town, now the only Wetherspoons pub in Paignton, underwent refurbishment in early 2024, following its acquisition of the Factory pub next door and consequent expansion. The entrance to the pub has been moved to where the Factory pub once was (the western end) as has the bar. This has increased the outside seating area, both on Torbay Road and at the back overlooking Torbay Park, which in fine weather is very pleasant. As in most Wetherspoons pubs that I have visited there are slightly too few bar staff to serve the waiting customers, but the service you do get is friendly. When I ordered a pint via their app I had to wait 12 minutes for it to be delivered to my table. I suspect that I may not have waited that long had I gone to the bar for my drink. Overall however I find that increasing the size of the pub has reduced the homely atmosphere the pub once had and made it less personal. I suppose that was inevitable.

Big pub.Quick service and good price

Busiest wetherspoons I've ever been to , well done to the staff , who work so hard

Great place ...great service ..Best in town

Good service polite and helpful staff ¹

Just had a drink here. It was your usual Weather spoons. Did notice this one had a serve yourself area, never noticed this at other places before?

It's a spoons... But very slow on table cleaning.

Good food, clean and friendly, quick service with lots of choice on the menu. Very good value for money. Clean toilets, helpful staff.

Recently refurbished and it has produced good surroundings. Usual wetherspoons decor and service. The outside seating area is excellent on a sunny day.

Maybe I made the mistake of judging in peak tourist season but it's pretty grim. Staff and service were good enough but the atmosphere is dreary, and I was let down by an over cooked chicken breast on a Tennessee burger and the accompanying limp onion rings.

Food nice, pub is very busy. Need more staff to clear the tables

4 of us called in here for evening meal + to see how the extension works have gone. The service was really poor + the internet ordering system was down making the bar busier. After ordering our food, we were seated with a view of the kitchen. We observed our food sat on the hot plate waiting to be picked up for more than 10 minutes - pretty poor really. The waiter was just strolling round the place. The building doesn't look like it has had a lot of money spent on it really. I went in a couple of nights later for a drink and the state of the place was terrible. Food on the floor, menus and serviettes on the floor. Tables full of dirty plates + glasses. Embarrassing really. We were in for a couple of hours and they had just cleared the plates away and were starting clearing glasses. I have been in numerous Wetherspoons, but this was poor and uncalled for.

Typical Wetherspoons fayre. Only had drinks. Friendly staff

Yet again another Wetherspoons let down. Tables not emptied, drinks machines not working. Looks like a staff shortage One guy though had sweat dripping off his back, should have been told to change his shirt 👕

Hi, In The Talk of the Town on 14 august 2024 at 16.00. Very busy got served Ok as per usual only two persons serving, many customers waiting to be served. Tried to find a table to sit on but found a number of tables pilled high with dirty plates and used glasses. No one seemed to be clearing up just left there blocking any table that you would like to sit on. In the corner a mass of dirty plates and glasses. Come on Tim not the way to run a pub especially after all the millions you have spent on creating the new space. Why have you not got some one clearing up and cleaning the tables? Where is the management keeping a eye on things? Very disappointing.

The best black pudding I ever had 🤤🤤🤤

Food was cold ad steak again tuff

Good pub didn’t have any food, but had a drink pub was very busy but staff kept tables clear, had a good seating area

Called in for breakfast here was a bit of a wait for food but was worth it Carol the supervisor was extremely helpful and a lovely lady an absolute credit to you please make sure she is aware that you as a company appreciate her. Also I am going to try her tip of hollandaise sauce haha

A Usual great Weatherspoons pub... Great food and great value. Very busy most evenings, extremely popular pub with the locals and tourists. Large pub with lots of tables. Had to wait until one became free. It was that busy. Shows how popular it is. Recommend to go a little earlier before on the usual busy times.

Wife and I came here for lunch as we was on holiday. Great place, was busy but all good. We would come back again.

Really quick service on the app, cheap drinks and food. Standard Spoons fayre. Have changed the review because the Spring 2024 refit is horrible. Almost everywhere you sit is now a thoroughfare of people walking by your table to the loo or looking for tables. The raised central area seems to be the only place to sit that doesn't have the constant people traffic. Have started going to Henry's across the road instead.

Good pub and very big, service was good and tables were cleared quickly,

Fantastic loved it, great beer and food 👍