The Beagle: Friday October 16, 2026

People living in and around Plymouth Hoe are set to go to the polls to decide whether or not to support a neighbourhood plan, which will give them greater say over future development.

All electors living within the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum area will have a vote on December 3, writes Alison Stephenson, Plymouth local democracy reporter.

Plymouth City Council’s cabinet approved the plan going forward for referendum at its meeting on Monday. It follows community engagement, workshops and consultations and an external independent examination.

The plan sets out policies on key themes such as heritage and design, blue and green spaces, pedestrians and transport, housing, and local infrastructure.

City planners will have to take it into consideration when considering planning applications for the area.

The city council has paid tribute to the Hoe Neighbourhood Forum for its many years of dedication and before that the Hoe Conservation Area Residents Association and others who had worked hard to get the plan over the line.

Polling stations are expected to be open from 7am to 10pm on December 3.

The curious case of the disappearing No 2 bus

Plymouth seems to have a new mystery: the disappearing bus! And one city councillor is thoroughly fed up with trying to solve it.

Cllr Andy Rose, who represents St Peter and the Waterfront, has had enough of Stagecoach’s Number 2 service, which links Saltash with Mount Batten.

A regular passenger, he tries to catch the 7.20am bus from Royal Parade. The trouble is, even when it turns up on time, there’s no guarantee it will actually take him where he wants to go.

On occasions, he says, passengers have been told to get off because it has been commandeered to serve another route. And the homeward journey is apparently no more dependable.

Cllr Rose says travellers have been ordered off at the Morley Arms, near Laira Bridge, when their bus has been diverted elsewhere.

On another occasion, he says, stops on Green Park Road were omitted without warning, leaving passengers struggling to reach hospital appointments, trains and ferries.

For Mount Batten residents, who have limited public transport alternatives, this is no small inconvenience.

Cllr Rose has complained repeatedly to Stagecoach and Plymouth City Council, but says he has received little more than excuses. He now intends to take his grievances directly to the company’s chief executive.

He says he has nothing but praise for the drivers, describing them as “lovely, friendly and helpful” professionals who are themselves embarrassed by instructions from their controllers.

It’s Stagecoach’s management that is firmly in his sights.

His verdict on the Number 2? “It is not a service, it is a shambles.”

Plymouth seafood takes centre stage in two-week celebration

Seafood lovers are being encouraged to sample Plymouth’s finest local catches as the city’s Seafood Discovery Tour returns for its third year.

Running from this weekend until the end of October the event celebrates Plymouth’s fishing heritage while supporting local fishermen and restaurants.

Organised by the Plymouth Fishing and Seafood Association, the tour features participating venues including The Bottling Plant, The Boathouse, Jolly Jacks, Platters, The Fisherman’s Arms, The Navy Inn and The Grecian on the Barbican.

Diners can discover locally landed seafood while learning more about the city’s fishing industry.

For details of participating venues and activities, click here

Scene on the Sound: by The Captain

A very international week!

Firstly, an apology – last week I was wrong about the RN’s Type 45 being briefly in the Sound on last Thursday (Oct 8).   It was, in fact, HMS Dragon, just returned from 7 months on operations in the Med (prompted by the Iranian drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus).  Dragon was here to clear Customs, so that families could come onboard when she returned to her base port of Portsmouth.  HM Ships always have to clear Customs on returning from abroad – even after the Falklands War, when my ship, HMS Cardiff, stopped briefly off Portland for a (very cursory) Customs check before returning to Portsmouth.

This week has been another busy and very international one for warships in the Sound. 

We had:

The Indian Navy’s frigate INS Trishul until Thursday afternoon, when she departed, probably up Channel to continue her ‘Showing the Flag’ deployment.

The Portuguese submarine NRP Tridente sailed on Tuesday, probably to join the multi-national exercises in the Plymouth areas, but we won’t know if this was just a fleeting visit until she reappears here, or doesn’t, as the case may be.  All nations keep their submarine’s movements classified when possible.

The German and Norwegian frigates FGS Hessen and HNoMS Otto Sverdrup have been training all week.  Hessen is due back in Devonport for the weekend and Otto Sverdrup may have gone on her way.   

And RFA Proteus, the seabed defence ship, has been out and in and out again. 

There have been two of the Navy’s Duke-class frigates around – one for the very last time.  HMS Sutherland has been working in the area most of the week and her (only two year older) sistership, the ex-HMS Richmond has been towed away to Portsmouth, where the Disposal and Reserve Ships Organisation will strip her of any equipment that can be reused or is still classified or of military significance.  Sometime next year, she will probably be towed away to be scrapped in somewhere like the Aliaga Ship Recycling Yard near Izmir, Turkey.

Probably the most significant naval movement of the week was when HMS Protector, the RN’s one and only ice-strengthened ship, was towed into Plymouth by three tugs on Tuesday morning. 

HMS Protector is now 25 years old and was leased as a ‘temporary’ measure when her predecessor, HMS Endurance, was damaged after hitting an iceberg in the Antarctic.  After three years, she was bought and has remained the RN’s ice patrol vessel ever since.  But as we see from the attempts to run the RN’s frigate force on and on, hulls and machinery wear out, after which the ship is no longer worth refitting or repairing – “New Wine in Old Bottles…”.  It seems that the same thing has happened here and HMS Protector has probably sailed under the White Ensign for the last time.  The MoD says that her replacement will be in the (not yet funded) Defence Investment Plan.  That does not fill the Captain with hope!

The Captain is a real Royal Navy-retired Captain, who writes exclusively for The Beagle about maritime matters in the Ocean City.

THE BEAGLE WEEKEND GUIDE

Things to do this weekend

Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026

Whether you fancy discovering some wonderful local art, enjoying freshly caught seafood, listening to live music or watching competitive sailing on Plymouth Sound, there’s plenty happening around our waterfront communities this weekend.

Here are The Beagle’s recommendations.

1. Plymouth Art Weekender

Saturday and Sunday | Royal William Yard | 11am–4pm

Plymouth’s independent arts scene takes centre stage this weekend, with exhibitions, installations and creative activities across the city. Royal William Yard is a particular hotspot, with local and visiting artists showcasing their work in the historic Melville Building.

Free admission to exhibitions.
Find out more

2. Allspars Final Fling Dinghy Regatta

Saturday and Sunday | Plymouth Sound

There’s plenty of action on the water as the Royal Western Yacht Club hosts its ninth annual Final Fling regatta. Dinghy sailors from across the country compete in an exciting weekend of racing on Plymouth Sound. Find a good vantage point along the waterfront and enjoy the spectacle.

Free to watch from public areas.
Find out more

3. Candlelight: A Tribute to The Beatles

Sunday | National Marine Aquarium | 6.30pm

Something a little different at the Aquarium, as a string quartet performs some of the Fab Four’s best-loved songs by candlelight. Expect classics including Yesterday, Here Comes the Sun and Let It Be, with atmospheric lighting providing a memorable setting.

Tickets from £15.75.
Find out more

4. Our Atlantic Roots

Saturday | Barbican Theatre | 8pm–10pm

An intimate evening of acoustic folk and Americana from independent duo Our Atlantic Roots, whose music has attracted millions of streams and BBC Radio 2 airplay. Their melodic, harmony-rich sound should provide the perfect accompaniment to a relaxed Saturday evening on the Barbican.

Ticketed event.
Find out more

5. Sofar Sounds: International Day of Discovery

Saturday | Alma Yard, Cattedown | From 3pm

Discover new music in one of Plymouth’s most interesting creative spaces. Sofar Sounds brings three emerging artists to Alma Yard for an intimate performance, with the line-up kept secret until the event. Food and drinks will be available from SATO.

Ticketed event.
Find out more

6. Hope Begins With A Home

Saturday and Sunday | Royal William Yard

A thought-provoking community exhibition exploring the meaning of home and the realities of homelessness. Organised by Plymouth homelessness charity Path and supported by Ocean City Arts, it brings together paintings, photography, textiles and written work from local creatives. Part of this weekend’s Art Weekender programme.

Free admission.
Find out more

7. Pick up a copy of Plymouth's Central Park: The Story

Any time | Any place

OK it's not the waterfront, but it is edited and introduced by Chris Robinson! And it's just been published. The Beagle was invited to Pounds House this afternoon (Friday) to hear author Andrew Young talk about his love affair with Central Park. The book is packed (256 pages) with stories, features and photos. Full review next week.

The Beagle Weekend Guide highlights a selection of events taking place across Plymouth’s waterfront communities. Event details and ticket availability may change, so please check with organisers before travelling.

OldManSailing - following Chichester

The Beagle is following 'OldManSailing' John Passmore as he attempts to sail single-handed from Plymouth to Sydney. As we published, John has been at sea for 49 days since leaving The Sound, and is 600 miles east of Joao Pessoa, Brazil

And he has set a record: it is the longest period he has been at sea on his own!

He has sailed 4,054 miles, with 10,596 miles still to go.

You can track his adventure, read his exploits, and show support at his "buymeacoffee" page

And finally, a shock transformation!

Spotted at Commercial Wharf, this brilliant mural by mrsmurals turns a drab electric junction box into a work of art! We love it.

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