MAJOR plans are being drawn up to refurbish an iconic Newquay hotel complex after the sale went through.

The Nicholas James Group (NJG) has purchased the Hotel Victoria, Bertie O'Flannigan's pub and Berties night club, the adjacent Whitehouse and Señor Dicks Mexican Restaurant in East Street.

Drew Wrintmore, the managing director, development and construction, gave a presentation on the plans to Newquay Town Council’s planning committee.

He said the plan is to create a four or five star hotel, which will become an “integral” part of the town and create in the region of 250 jobs.

Mr Wrintmore added the company is looking at what is viable but initial plans would be to make the spa and swimming pool area bigger.

He also stated it is unlikely the Berties nightclub would remain the same though the lift to Great Western Beach would play an “integral part” to their plans.

Mr Wrintmore said: “We have worked on a few hotels in Cornwall including the Fowey Hotel and the Porthminster down in St Ives.

“We are a hotelier who develop a four or five star product and we’ve worked across the south coast for the past 25 to 30 years.

“We have recently acquired the Hotel Victoria.

“The hotel is in pretty poor condition and unfortunately has had to shut down.

“We are looking at our options to develop it into a new brand, which we call the Newquay hotel brand.

“We opened our first hotel two and a half years ago in Bournemouth.

“It was similarly an older property that we took and converted into a five-star product.

“That has opened and transformed the hotel scene in Bournemouth.

“It has given Bournemouth the best hotel it’s had in years.

“The intention with the Hotel Victoria is to run it as a hotel.

“We envisage we will be creating in the region of 250 jobs through the hotel.

“We haven’t worked out yet our plan of exactly how the works will take place or when they will take place.

“As a business we hold our assets. We don’t usually sell them.

“We have undertaken mixed use developments in the past.

“The hotel will need considerable works to bring it up to the standard we would be expect for our properties.

“We are looking at what we can and can’t do to generate the funds to make what it needs to be in that part of the town.

“The roof is currently leaking quite heavily into the top floor of the hotel, which is quite a challenge, and we’ve got security fencing going up around there.

“The inside of the hotel is very tired and is in need of some modernisation.”

David Jobbins from planning consultancy Luken Beck, added: “It is a beautiful building.

“It is tired. That is a polite way of putting it.

“It’s had a lot of ad hoc extensions to it.

“Perhaps it’s not been as loved as it could have been.

“We have got to look at the historic and landscape context.

“The good news story is that we want to retain and refurbish the hotel.

“We have got a lot of work to do.

“There might be a sequence of applications once we’ve got our head around it.

“We don’t know what is coming your way soon but one thing we are keen on is to bring it back to life.

“That is essential to the town.

“We do intend to work closely with the town council and local residents.

“We think that is essential.

“It is a long-term commitment.

“It is not a question of a nasty developer coming and building, making lots of money and going away again.

“This is very much a long-term investment for the hotel. They want to make it a success.

“We are very keen to progress once we’ve got the consent.

“The Hotel Victoria is a locally listed building not a nationally listed building.

“That does not bring any additional protection to it.

“It is just a recognition that it is a building of some historic merit. You could demolish a locally listed building without the need for listed building consent

“We have got to look at the site and the hotel needs considerable investment.

“The big push at the moment is viability to make sure we can make it works as a four or five star hotel.”

Councillors said they are looking forward to seeing the hotel refurbished.

Cllr Joanna Kenny, the chairman of the town council planning committee, said: “I’m delighted you are investing in the hotel as a hotel.

“I think the hotel is completely hideous and dominates the whole town but I’m probably in a minority of one.

“One of the problems you are going to face with the lift is its really close to the cliff and the cliff is falling.”

Mr Wrintmore said: “We think the lift is a tremendous asset.

“It’s straight onto the beach.

“It’s unique but we are very aware of coastal erosion and management.

“The lift is integral to our hotel operation.

“We will want that lift to be running.

“We are in discussions with several coastal marine engineers looking at the cliff to make sure it is suitable and stable enough to deal with that because the lift is operational.”

Cllr Kenny said: “You will need to talk very carefully to the coastal people at Cornwall Council.

“I think it will be difficult to keep that safe bearing in mind there is a vein next to it where we had that massive fall a few years back.

“I wouldn’t go down that lift.”

Mr Wrintmore said: “There is a swimming pool there but ideally, we would want that to be a bit bigger.

“Spa facilities at hotels are the jewel in the crown so when you’ve got a property where you need to attract visitors in the winer months you need that spa option.

“This will be an inclusive higher end hotel. It will become an integral part of the town.”

Cllr Joe Brook said: “I think the façade of the hotel is beautiful though it does need a bit of sprucing up.”

Cllr Kate Larsen added: “Overall well done on your other properties.

“If the Hotel Victoria is anything like them it will be a fantastic contribution to the town.”

Richard Taylor, who was one of the co-owners of the Hotel Victoria complex, confirmed the sale went through last week.

He said: “Nicholas James Group wants to make it the best hotel and that's what I'm hoping for.

“It will be great to see it being something the town will be proud of.

“I'm excited with the prospect of that.”