Fragrance Group’s £23m Corbyn Head hotel expected to open 2024

Work on the Fragrance’s Group’s £23m Corbyn Head hotel in Torquay, Devon, is set to start this summer with the hotel expected to complete in summer 2024.

The four-star property will have 152 bedrooms, eight of which will be wheelchair accessible, as well as a restaurant and terraces overlooking the bay. There will also be an onsite spa and rooftop bar.

Singapore-based property firm Fragrance Group bought the property in 2017. It also plans to redevelop Paignton's Park and Lighthouse hotels and open them under Accor's Ibis Styles and Mercure brands, and redevelop Torquay's Palace hotel as a luxury hotel.

The property company also plans to transform Bath's Grade II-listed Royal Mineral Water Hospital into a luxury hotel following a refurbishment.

Its wider portfolio includes the St Chads, Imperial and Lyndene hotels in Blackpool; the Crown hotel in Harrogate; the Aloft Liverpool hotel, which it bought last year; and the Townhouse hotel in Manchester.

Martin Rogers, managing director of GH&L (Global Hotels and Leisure) Consultancy, said: “Fragrance is delighted to appoint Willmott Dixon as contractors to build this amazing hotel.

“The Corbyn will be a further commitment by the Singaporean Group to Torbay adding to the Mercure and Ibis Styles under construction in Paignton. The Corbyn will enjoy amazing views out across Tor Bay and will be operated under a global hotel brand.”

Rob Woolcock, director at Willmott Dixon, which has been appointed to deliver the hotel, said: “We are looking forward to creating this fantastic new four-star hotel in the heart of Torquay that will become another high-quality venue for visitors to enjoy the town and surrounding areas.

"While the Corbyn Head hotel marks the start of our partnership with the Fragrance Group, it continues our extensive track-record for high-profile projects across the South West, which recently included completing the Box in Plymouth and the Digital and Data Centre for Exeter College.”

CGI: Kay Elliott Architects