Jim Parker: Peek inside Torquay's iconic Pavilion as harbour traders find new voice

Here is Torquay's much-loved Pavilion in all its glory — albeit a gem which has lost a lot of its sparkle after years of no use and neglect.
The pictures come courtesy of agents Fleurets who have been marketing the listed building on property website Rightmove on behalf of Torbay Council to see if there is any commercial interest.
Money from the Torquay Town Deal funding pot is being used to carry out a survey of the Pavilion to ascertain the exact damage — and cost — caused by years of being locked away and all but forgotten.

From first glance, the damage doesn't look too bad. The Pavilion has lost none of its magic. But the renovation bill is still likely to run into many millions of pounds.
It may be just a survey and then hoardings will go up around the building, but at last something is happening.
It is all part of that Torquay waterfront and harbourside puzzle that is slowly but surely being pieced together and attracting lots of investment from other private businesses in the area which is also being seen as a massive vote of confidence in the Bay's overall future.
In fact, it is the private sector businesses who are now having a major say and playing a huge part in that future. Enter TIBO, or the Torquay Independent Business Owners group. Chaired by Anthony Jones, who owns the Twenty1 Restaurant on Victoria Parade and the Otto Restaurant virtually next door the Pavilion, this group have become the voice of business in the area and people, especially the council, have been listening to them.

TIBO was originally formed when The Strand regeneration project was first mooted and the harbour was about to be turned into a no-go area for traffic during vital, summer trading months. Schedules and road closures were changed on the back of discussions with TIBO.
Anthony says: “We can probably all agree that over recent years the town centre and harbourside has sadly been in decline. We are now at a pivotal point in time with significant funding and investment opportunities not only on our doorstep but right across the Bay. I strongly feel that we need to work together to embrace this change and positively contribute where we have the opportunity to do so.
"Over the past 12 months I have been actively working to bridge the gap between Torbay Council and the local harbourside traders, specifically those within the hospitality sector.
"I feel my commitment to community collaboration has been important in the regeneration efforts of the Torquay harbourside. Through TIBO we played an important role in the delivery of the public realm scheme, from influencing the timing of the road closure part of the project, sharing thoughts on the planned demolition works of the Debenhams building, as well as being involved in the general upkeep to the harbourside, and new ideas to boost tourism, etc.
“Thankfully our collective concerns and alternative solutions have been well received and listened to by the council. That is the most important thing I feel here, we now have built an open, good positive channel of communication between the business voices and the council. This has taken time, but that partnership mentality is in place, I feel, for both parties that this is a great foundation to build upon as we look to a very big transformation period which we cannot mess up and get wrong.
“I strongly feel that all parties with a shared and invested interest, both financially and personally should all be working together. Together we should be able to find that happy medium privately, then present ideas and issues as a collective to the council. Our collective legacy should be that we have played a vital role in shaping Torquay potentially for the next 100 years.
“As an independent local business, that is raising a young family in Torquay, I want nothing more than for them to grow up loving where they live. That said, I also (as do many other local businesses) want to be able to expand, grow their business, increase employment etc but that requires more visitors to the area, more focus on growing repeat visitors, attracting locals from surrounding areas to visit our incredibly beautiful harbour.
“We are already on the path to doing this, but how can we shape future plans that ensure not only local businesses and trades thrive, but we celebrate, respect and keep our local history alive.
He admits: “When they started talking about the roadworks closure, we thought this cannot happen. It would decimate us. That’s when I thought we had to do something about it.”
Now TIBO has regular meetings and includes the chamber of commerce, businesses, town centre partnerships and the council's regeneration officers and private sector partners in Willmott Dixon and Milligan.
Anthony says: “We have had a lot of positive results. We have open communications with the council which was the biggest starting point. Communications were terrible.”
There are now about 30 businesses involved and the numbers are growing.
“All sorts of issues are tackled and raised — things like the homeless at the Beacon Quay car park which was resolved,” says Anthony. “It is sometimes frustrating how long things take even when it comes to a lick of paint, but things are getting done and tidied up slowly but surely.”
He says the likes of the Pavilion and Living Coasts need to be sorted out as soon as possible — he would like to see the Pavilion have a heavy surface clean and install up-lights around the whole building as a starting point. He says: “Just because it sits empty doesn't mean we can't showcase its beauty to visitors of the Bay all year round. Especially as we know there will be no start to this project (building works) till the end of 2026 minimum.”
He is urging the council to embrace that they have control of the building and to showcase this and not let it hide behind more builders' fencing. He agrees regeneration attracts regeneration with several businesses now investing heavily in and around the harbour. Naturally, there will be some concerns about the next big redevelopment on their doorstep, the demolition and regeneration of the Debenhams site.
He says: “Whilst we are worried about Debenhams, the next phase of building works, with the possible impact on local businesses, we are also very excited there is further investment in and around the harbourside.”
He adds: “For me, this is a pivotal time for Torquay, everybody on the harbour and the business owners. These matters are personal because these businesses are all local families, some of whom have been here for 40 years. I have been here on the Torquay harbour in one form or another since 1998 and have witnessed all the changes first hand. Now is the exact time to stand up and be counted and if I can assist or help play a role in this process I will.”
Regeneration councillor and deputy leader Chris Lewis has welcomed the input from TIBO.
He says: “There is a time for politicians to step up to the mark and there is a time when you have to sit back and take a backseat because the community can have free discussions and then there is feedback.”
Cllr Lewis added: “The feedback to the Strand project has been very positive . There are a few things that we still have to complete but overall we are happy with it now. Now let’s get on with Debenhams and we will have one of the best waterfronts in the South West.”
It is believed the council have now either bought or in negotiations to buy other properties on the harbour side to offer a bigger and more attractive site for redevelopment alongside the old Debenhams store. Evidently, an apartments and restaurant scheme would not be viable and now the speculation is that a boutique hotel might be the centrepiece of any future scheme.
“It is going to transform that area,” said Cllr Lewis. “This is where our partners Willmott Dixon and Milligan come in because they have been doing these sorts of projects around the country. They are talking to people who want to invest in the Bay because they can see Torbay has a great future.”

He adds: “People are passionate about Torbay and we need to use passion to drive forward. We were elected to deliver these projects and we are delivering. Do not expect this to happen tomorrow. This is a long, long programme which will take 10 years to get it right if not longer, but we have started with The Strand which is the shop window. Now we have Debenhams, Union Square, the Pavilion, Victoria Street, the Picture House and Oldway Mansion in Paignton and a Brixham town centre scheme.
“Come back in five to 10 years and you will not recognise Torbay.”
Only one comment from me to sum all this up: Now is the Time!