Paignton business left in limbo after safety closure and apparent break-in

The owners of Aroma Grill, a takeaway restaurant on Victoria Street in Paignton, have spoken of their frustration after more than seven weeks of closure due to safety concerns in their building, followed by an apparent break-in and vandalism.

The premises at 62-70 Victoria Street were suddenly closed on 26 November 2025. Tenants were served notice to cease trading and vacate immediately over health and safety issues, understood to relate to structural problems including the second-floor roof.

The block at 62-70 Victoria Street comprises four ground-floor retail units, a disused former nightclub on the second floor, and unoccupied residential flats on the upper levels. The current ground-floor traders include the Queen Victoria pub, mobile phone repair shop Fone Fix, Aroma Grill takeaway, and Yankees takeaway.

Torbay Council has stated that the action followed a report from an engineer appointed by the building's owners, prompting Building Control to implement emergency measures. Parts of Victoria Street were also closed to the public amid the concerns.

The restaurant initially informed customers via a Facebook post on 28 November: "We regret to announce that the Paignton branch is currently closed temporarily due to essential building maintenance work." 

Security was put in place, preventing access even to tenants. On one occasion, police allowed the owners brief entry to retrieve stock. The building remains under restricted access, with ongoing uncertainty over when or if operations can resume.

In early January 2026, the situation worsened. A video posted on Facebook by Aroma Grill on 6 January showed the aftermath of an apparent unauthorised entry. The owners described discovering extensive damage: someone had accessed the premises, reportedly through the ceiling, spilled oil across the kitchen floor, filled freezers with sauces and other items including oil, emptied refrigerators, and left the back door breached and open. They expressed particular worry about the incident, especially as an earlier social media video had appeared to show someone accessing the top floor via the roof.

The owners contacted police on 999, who redirected them to 101. They say the non-emergency line took details and promised a response, but none had materialised after several days. Police reportedly advised contacting the council's Building Control team, which in turn directed them back to the freeholder. Repeated attempts to reach the landlord have gone unanswered.

As the principal business rates payer for their unit at 68 Victoria Street, the owners of Aroma Grill employ eight full-time staff, who are growing increasingly anxious about their livelihoods amid the prolonged uncertainty.

"We've been trying to get hold of the landlord for ages but there's no answer," they said on 19 January. "So we're stuck in the middle of nowhere."

The freeholder, Solanki Holdings Ltd – a property development company that acquired the Victoria Street site in 2023 – has previously submitted a planning application to Torbay Council in early 2025, seeking full demolition of the entire 62-70 Victoria Street block, citing major structural issues, safety hazards (including a 2023 incident of falling masonry), and its status as a 'hideous eyesore'.

Solanki envisioned replacing it with 'Victoria Heights', a mixed-use development featuring residential apartments above ground-floor commercial units.

However, the application drew significant objections, including from the Council for British Archaeology, which highlighted the building's value as a non-designated heritage asset in the Old Paignton Conservation Area, dating to the Victorian era with architectural merit despite its deterioration.

Torbay Council refused permission in April 2025, stating that demolition would harm the conservation area without sufficient public benefit to justify the loss. Local campaigners and residents also opposed the plans during a public consultation period ending in March 2025.

Torbay Council has previously indicated it cannot intervene directly in matters initiated by the freeholder, though Building Control remains involved in structural oversight. No confirmed timeline for the reopening of Aroma Grill Paignton or repairs has been given.