Despite the sardonic comments of everyone’s favourite hotel owner, Basil Fawlty, the English Riviera remains a popular destination. The climate is agreeable and the bustling towns along its coast offer a plethora of activities. And none more so than Torquay.
‘Torquay is a gorgeous place to live,’ says Lynda Hayes, practice manager and co-owner of Hayes Optician. ‘It’s got a beautiful coastline, Dartmoor is down the road and there are some amazing beaches, restaurants and bars close by. It’s a great family destination and tourist spot.’
The practice opened around 10 years ago and has one testing room, OCT and a retinal camera. ‘As an independent service is so important,’ says Hayes. ‘We try to tailor our service and cater to individual needs. We also have an added focus on the clinical side of things.
‘Our patient base is fairly representative of the town’s demographic with lots of over 70s as well as some younger walk-ins,’ she says. ‘That is why we provide domiciliary visits as there are a lot of retired people in the area who need them.’
Hayes says brands such as Dior, Tiffany’s, Maui Jim and Ray-Ban have been selling well recently.
Simon Simmonds, director at Specsavers, says ‘Torquay is a very busy town throughout the year, as it is the largest in the south-west behind Exeter and Plymouth’. Simmonds’ practice has been in town since 1984. Since its ‘humble beginnings’ it has grown to cover two floors, five testing rooms, a contact lens consultation room and a soundproofed audiology room.
The practice employs 10 optical professionals, including five optometrists, two pre-regs, two DOs and a contact lens optician. ‘We were one of the first Specsavers stores in the south-west to have invested in OCT which we offer to all customers who have a clinical need,’ says Simmonds.
Simmonds says the store’s ‘best-selling frames’ are from ‘the Kylie Eyewear range and Cath Kidston with on trend shapes or fun, bright colours’. The Comfit range for the older market is also popular.
According to Simmonds people in the town like a good offer and ‘always trust Specsavers to give them the best one’. ‘The customer base is what you make it. We go out proactively to get new customers, to excite and rejuvenate existing customers and make the shopping experience fun.’
Who’s in town
Total: 8
Independents: 4
Multiples: 4
Average costs
The price of an eye exam in Torquay ranges from £21.50 to £30, at an average cost of £26.70.
Population
Population: 50, 279
Community eye care
According to the LOCSU Atlas Map of Optical Variation, Devon Local Optical Committee has a contract with Torbay and South Devon CCG in Glaucoma Referral Refinement.
Health and affluence
- The average house price in Torquay is £223,728 (Zoopla), compared with a UK average of £224, 144 (Land Registry, 2018).
- Of the 3,645 people in Devon registered as blind or partially sighted, 47% are registered as blind and 53% are partially sighted (RNIB Sight Loss Data Tool).
- Over a fifth of people registered as blind or partially sighted in Devon are also recorded as having an additional disability by the local authority (RNIB).
- In Devon, it is estimated that 41,510 people are at risk of or living with sight loss due to the early stages of AMD (RNIB).
Fact file
The famous murder-mystery writer, Agatha Christie, and creator of Belgian sleuth Hercule Poirot (pictured as portrayed by David Suchet) was born in Torquay and lived there in her early years. There is now an ‘Agatha Christie Mile’ in the town and tours dedicated to her.
John Cleese and Connie Booth’s ‘Fawlty Towers’ was set in Torquay. Although none of the show was filmed in the South-West, there are constant references to the ‘English Riviera’.
Torquay has undergone many name changes. Its original name was Torrequay, which later changed to Torkay, then Torkey, before finally becoming the Torquay we know today.
During the 1948 Summer Olympics, watersport activities were held in Torquay.
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