The Paignton Club

The Paignton Club is a purpose-built club constructed in 1881, situated on an important section of the Esplanade. It is a building of group value, recognised for its special architectural or historic interest. The building is primarily stuccoed, with a concealed roof and stacks behind a parapet. Its design is in a Classical style.

The building follows a double-depth rectangular plan, with bowed ends. The ground floor features a central entrance leading to a stair hall. Originally, heated rooms were located to the left and right of the entrance, both with bowed ends. The first floor contains a large billiard room, accompanied by smaller offices on either side. Services were initially housed in the basement, which has since been converted into a flat; current services are located in a later addition to the rear.

The exterior comprises two storeys and a basement. The symmetrical five-bay front incorporates a five-bay verandah created by an Ionic colonnade, topped with a parapet pierced by small lancet windows. A similar parapet runs along the main block. The verandah has a low balustrade supported by High Victorian cast-iron standards featuring foliage decoration. Steps lead up to the verandah, which has a central doorway with a moulded architrave and unusual stuccoed brackets supporting a crested cornice. A half-glazed door with an overlight completes the entrance. The other ground-floor bays feature similar doorways with high-transomed French windows. First-floor windows are similarly styled with brackets and shallow pediments; they also have matching French windows. Three-bay bows extend to the left and right, rising to first-floor level and incorporating matching parapets. The bays are divided by large Corinthian half columns. Round-headed windows in the bows have pilastered architraves with keyblocks. The bays at the rear of the bows are windowed to match the front. The rear elevation, facing Roundham Road, displays three first-floor pedimented windows and a single-storey, flat-roofed service addition.

Internally, original joinery includes large, two-leaf panelled doors leading to ground-floor rooms from the stair hall. A remarkable angled timber cornice with a pierced pattern is a notable feature. The staircase has a steep incline with mahogany turned balusters and a handrail. The billiard room has decorative roof vents and two Edwardian-style timber fireplaces. Early fittings, including tables and scoreboards, remain. A dumb waiter is present in the billiard room, likely original.