Hotel Proposals
Comprehensive upgrade to create new luxury family hotel that recaptures the grandeur of the original late 19th century hotel.
Above: View of proposed hotel, spa and residential development
111 guest rooms and suites within original 19th century hotel
Destination spa
Events and banqueting spaces
135 cover restaurant
Dining terrace
115 space car park with improved access
Beach Club
Champagne Bar
Meeting rooms
Restored Sun Deck and new external terracing
Appearance
The exterior of the existing hotel will be dramatically remodeled to reinstate the proportions, rhythm and grandeur of the original - creating a contemporary interpretation of the Italianate style - while providing for modern requirements such as balconies and improved thermal performance. The feature corner towers are once again expressed and the roofscape articulated with dormer windows in the spirit of the original hotel.
The conversion of the 1960s wing to residential use is expressed by a change in architectural style to reinforce the form of the original hotel while responding to the lower floor to ceiling heights of the later addition.
The new spa and beach club sit to the east of the hotel within the lower levels. They form a contemporary extension to the reinstated colonnade and integrate with the wider landscape. The removal of a number of extensions, including the 1999 conservatory and Haldon Room also improves the external appearance and creates new alfresco areas for guests to enjoy.
Below: View of proposed entrance improvements
Facing Parkhill Road, a classically proportioned portico provides a fitting entrance to the new hotel. The removal of the upper floor of the adjacent office/staff wing further improves the arrival experience while reinstated feature gate piers frame the entrance and adjacent coastal footpath.
Above: View of existing entrance showing 1960's re-cladding and roof extensions
![Above: View of original hotel entrance (Image KGPA Ltd/Alamy)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4251558a8362016d76856d/1604409350346-KXMW57BIR1J54T57VB03/2AY4W1M.jpg)
Above: View of original hotel entrance (Image KGPA Ltd/Alamy)
“One of the most distinctive characteristics of the resorts’ buildings, gardens and artifacts is the influence of Italianate design… Recognising this style, protecting surviving examples and taking new inspiration from it are essential if we are to retain and enhance the special qualities of our resorts.”
— Draft Torbay Heritage Strategy 2021-2026
Ground Floor Layout
The aim of the ground floor alterations is to improve the connectivity of spaces, lack of accessible external terraces and inefficient use of space. The strong east-west axis of the original building was interrupted when the Regency Room was constructed in the early 20th century. The proposals re-introduce this route, extending the corridor to a new external beach club terrace - significantly increasing accessible external space. The 1999 conservatory is removed and the sun-deck reopened to create flexible space that can be enclosed in the winter but opened up during the warmer months. A central feature bar in the former ballroom will activate this space and allow it to become a hub of activity central to the ground floor public areas. With the conversion of the ground floor guestrooms to apartments, the incongruous connection to the west is removed, allowing a straightforward service route to the flexible banqueting space at the far end of the restaurant.
Above: Proposed ground floor plan
Lower Floors
Having removed the leisure facilities from the western end of the building to make way for residential accommodation, the proposals re-position the new spa treatment rooms in some of the under-used spaces within the existing basement. This will allow them to be directly accessible from the public areas on ground floor, either via the guest lifts or the main staircase. The spa will include beauty treatment areas, relaxation space and changing rooms with the leisure facilities beyond. Beneath the new “beach club” terrace at ground floor level is a new infinity pool taking advantage of spectacular view across Tor Bay.
Above: Proposed lower ground floor plan
Guestrooms
The hotel guestrooms are currently arranged over a total of eight floors, sandwiching the hotel public areas on the ground floor. By converting the west guestroom wing into apartments, the main block of guestrooms is more compact and occupies the original 19th century sections of the building. These rooms have more character, are better connected to the public room via the grand staircase and are often larger - some retained suites are c80sqm while a number of single rooms of only 17sqm are planned for removal.
Above: Proposed typical guestroom floor
“Historic England welcomes the scheme and considers it to be an exemplar approach which we commend.”
— Historic England Pre-application Advice 31st October 2020