Banksy boost for Torquay hotel

21 October 2010 by
Banksy boost for Torquay hotel

A drawing by urban graffiti artist Banksy ](http://www.banksy.co.uk/)has turned a Torquay hotel into a tourist attraction.

Hundreds of sightseers have been thronging to the three-AA-star, 46-bedroom [Grosvenor hotel](http://www.grosvenorhoteltorquay.co.uk/), ever since the eight-foot high drawing of a young boy sketching a robot was confirmed as the work of the notoriously shy artist. It seems that an extractor fan, which forms the robot's eyes, was the inspiration behind the artwork.

"I spotted it as I drove into work on the morning of Monday 4 October," said the hotel's general manager Joleen Layman. "I liked it, but I had no idea it was by Banksy. Confirmation came this weekend when a photograph appeared on the artist's website.

"We have since been inundated with people calling into the hotel and stopping outside in their cars, and have had press photographers here constantly. We've now covered the drawing in Perspex to protect it."

It is unknown what will be the future of the drawing as the Grosvenor is currently on the market for £1.5m and one of two potential buyers is close to exchanging contracts.

[Privacy watchdog calls for curbs on CCTVs in pubs and clubs >>](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2009/05/27/327865/Privacy-watchdog-calls-for-curbs-on-CCTVs-in-pubs-and.htm)

[Martin Miller - My Life in Hospitality >> ](http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2010/03/29/332824/Martin-Miller-My-Life-in-Hospitality.htm)
By Janet Harmer

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