The Harbour Point Story
by Torbay
Historian, Mike Holgate
In
1919 Kelly's Directory of Devonshire, the building was listed as a
restaurant run by Haarer & Son.
By 1923 it was listed as the St James Hotel run by Mr C. E. Haarer. A ballroom was added which opened in November 1929.
It remained the St James Hotel until 1939 at which time it was owned by James Whitwell (Torquay Ltd) whose office shared the premises.
During the Second World War the premises were used as a billet for a RAF Air Sea Rescue unit, then sold in 1946.
By 1948 the building consisted of St James Chambers and seven flats.
The 400 Ballroom occupied at least part of the building by 1947.
In June 1975, the Herald Express reported that 'the former 400 ballroom' was being renovated after a year of dereliction, to form a luxury entertainments centre.
This continued with the same name until becoming the Ritzy night club in about 1987.
Sometime after the Millennium it became a club for teenagers still operating as Route 66.
In the Sunday Independent 26 April 1981, it was reported that a fourth floor luxury harbour side flat had been converted into a studio by DevonAir who had taken it over on a 25 year lease. Managing Director Maurice Vass compared the magnificent view with three other radio stations in Las Vegas, Sydney and Monte Carlo(© Mike Holgate and devonairradio.com).
Above: Room with a view. The main control room at DevonAir's Torquay studio. Generally regarded by UK broadcasters as the studio with best view in the country. The premises are currently occupied by DevonAir's contractual successors (image: © John Pierce).