Headland fit for Royalty as it looks to new future after devastating blaze

The owners and staff at the Headland Hotel and Spa were determined to do one thing after a Christmas Eve fire forced its closure - see it re-opened looking better than ever before.
And that's exactly what they have done.
The July 1 re-opening comes after seven months of painstaking work and a hefty investment making the Headland fit for Royalty again - just like it was all those years ago when it was the Torquay villa home of the Russian elite family, the Romanovs.
The devastating kitchen fire was a terrible day for everyone involved and huge gratitude went out to those on site, and the emergency services, for ensuring all guests and staff were safely evacuated.
But soon there was immense determination from owners Providence, and the staff led by new General Manager Matthew Hole, to use the setback as an opportunity to make the Headland better than ever before.
“It has taken a long time to sort out the smoke damage, which was more problematic than the actual fire,” said Matthew. “The fire originally started in the kitchen but the smoke did a lot of damage to the walls, burning through cables etc.
"One of the first changes we made was to the kitchen, and a fundamental shift in the operations of the hotel. Previously, all the cooking was done in the lower kitchen but we’ve flipped it around to have the main kitchen on the same level as the Gallery and Restaurant.
"The bar now carries on around in a curve to the main area of the Gallery, which is a section of great flexibility for the hotel, as it can work as an extension to the restaurant or as a dance-floor area for parties and weddings.
"The Gallery has open access to the Terrace, which is a wonderful feature of the Headland Hotel, as the views we can offer are unparalleled. We’ve also increased the number of covers, allowing us to serve up to 110 guests in the Gallery. There is fixed seating in the Gallery and some booths for guests.
"We will have sections of the Gallery carpeted in the same style as the reception area, with a wooden dance floor area leading out to the Terrace, which is a beautiful place to enjoy the wonderful weather and views with a cold drink. It is also a delightful place to enjoy breakfast and there is a bistro feel to the Gallery.”
As well as refurbishments to the core areas damaged by the smoke and fire, the Headland has undertaken a re-brand of its entire look and feel.
Given the spectacular views enjoyed by the Hotel, there is an understandable nod to the sea in their re-brand, and even those areas not directly affected by the fire have been redecorated in readiness for the grand reopening.
“The restart allowed us to work on a re-brand for the Headland, with new logos on our uniforms and the blues reflecting the sea,” said Matthew. “The crockery has blue flecks, all on trend in the industry, and another nod to our location by the sea.
"We move from the Gallery to a Lounge area with soft sitting, a perfect room for pre-drinks before going into the Restaurant.
“The main Restaurant has also been refurbished and will be another superb dining area for guests, as well as the location for weddings. We host the full package of ceremonies and wedding breakfasts, with four weddings and civil ceremonies already booked for July.
"After the service, the wedding guests can retire to the Terrace and our Gardens for drinks, while we set up the Restaurant for the wedding breakfast, which is then followed up by evening events in the Gallery.
"During the works, we’ve taken the opportunity to redecorate all 78 bedrooms. We’ve had a substantial budget to refresh the operating equipment, brand new duvets, linen etc. The bedrooms weren’t damaged by the fire but it felt right to also refresh that part of the guest experience.
“We have three Royal Suites, named after the Russian Romanoff family, who lived here when it was a villa. All of the Suites have the biggest floor space and an uninterrupted view of the sea.”