MovieChat Forums > Fawlty Towers (1975) Discussion > i live just up the road from the gleneag...

i live just up the road from the gleneagles hotel,

posted 8 years ago by DeclanCochran
3 replies | jump to latest

that this show was based on. it actually got knocked down a month or two ago and converted into an old folks home. in the years i lived here there was no effort made to capitalise on the (potential) success that the show could have bought to them. it was just another mediocre hotel for old people doing tinsel and turkey (the only time i have seen my grandmother drunk was after a visit to this hotel for a mother's day lunch).

it's a weird thing. torquay has an odd relationship with the monty python crew, and the life of brian was outright banned here for ages, despite showing in cinemas around the world (although i did myself go to a small screening when i was about 15, so i think it was one of those non-laws). it's one of those depressing small towns (what americans might call a midwestern town), so to have it be pivotal in the creation of one of the great cult comedies is quite humbling.

[–] drunkbear 8 years ago

Yes, I heard that the genuine Gleneagles hotel was demolished, recently. Well, it outlived the actual 'Fawlty Towers' hotel, and it couldn't have done badly by the publicity the show gave it.

- What are you gonna do, when the world catches on?

[–] kpetnews 8 years ago

I actually made a PILGRIMAGE to Torquay to see the Gleneagles back in 2008, and was very disappointed that all it had to capitalize on its fame was a bulletin board with newspaper clippings. Man. I would have bought Fawlty Towers merchandise if I could have, being the sad American that I am.

One thing that struck me about it was it seemed really far from the sea. It was a top a hill (near Kents Cavern, a great place to visit) and it didn't seem particularly convenient for seaside holidaying. Would anyone from the area care to correct me on this?

[–] DeclanCochran 8 years ago

There's a strip of hotels along a street leading up from the sea which is where 99% of holidaymakers go. But there's a lot of coach trips too, so the people who come can just get ferried to and fro in the day. Even then, I'd say the Gleneagles has good positioning, it's just a straight walk down to the seafront. Given the small nature of Torquay and the fact that couches abound everywhere, I'd say it's in a good spot.