Business owners in Torbay are being asked to help shape a new five‑year plan that will guide destination marketing for the English Riviera between 2027 and 2031. The English Riviera BID Company has launched a public consultation to gather feedback on how locally raised levy funds should be used to support the tourism economy.
The consultation document has been sent to about 1,300 eligible levy‑paying businesses across Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, including hotels, shops and restaurants. Historically the BID has secured more than £3 million per five‑year term; the ERBID3 materials state the BID is working to secure around £3.5 million of investment for the 2027–2031 term. Those funds pay for national advertising, the official visitor service and events such as the Bay of Lights winter light trail.
Carolyn Custerson, Chief Executive Officer of the English Riviera BID Company, said the consultation will help shape destination marketing priorities for the ERBID3 term (2027–2031). The BID’s consultation materials also warn that there is ‘no replacement funding for destination marketing from Torbay Council’ and that, if the ballot is not successful, the BID’s funded activities would stop from 1 January 2027.
Local firms are encouraged to attend a drop‑in session at the Banking Hall, Torquay Town Hall, on 5 February 2026 between 4:00pm and 7:00pm. There is also a virtual Q&A planned for 10 February 2026. The final ERBID3 Business Plan will be circulated in spring 2026 ahead of a confidential postal ballot scheduled to be open in late May to late June 2026 (the ballot result is expected to be notified on 29 June 2026).
