Jim Parker: Billionaire's latest Torbay hotel opens its doors but you won't be able raise a glass unless you're actually staying at Torquay seafront Hotel Indigo

He owns hotels and properties around the world, a billionaire and business tycoon in his own right and there he was just about to cut the ribbon to signal the official opening of a new hotel in little old Torbay.

Hotel Indigo on Torquay seafront is the third hotel to be built on the English Riviera by the Fragrance Group following in the footsteps of the Mercure and Ibis on Paignton seafront.

Chairman and CEO Koh Wee Meng is rarely seen in public, let alone in Torquay and Torbay, so it was a bit of a shock when word spread that he was in town.

He emerged up the steps of his latest project in the Bay surrounded by an entourage of high-ranking hotel company officials with the hotel entrance decked out in balloons and flowers courtesy of Ebon Macleod of Confetti Events and Hollyhocks Florist.

Hotel Indigo seafront view 

The first people he walked across to greet and give a big hug was a small group of women including his ‘big sister’.

This small, grey-haired man came across as a loving family man and I am sure he is just that although you don’t get to become one of the biggest real estate owners in the world by just giving hugs!

With Martin Rogers, the well-known South Devon-based commercial property guru and the Fragrance Group’s man in the UK who had been influential in persuading Mr Koh to invest millions into the Bay, and new Hotel Indigo James Farley either side, Mr Koh proceeded to snip the ribbon and then check in as the hotel’s first guest.

He enjoyed refreshments with his family and hotel VIPs and then agreed to have a chat. An exclusive chat.  His handshake was a warm one and it was a privilege to be in his company and ask just a couple of questions.

He explained how he only visited the Bay a few times during the constriction of his hotels. He was very pleased with Hotel Indigo and it was an example of why he decided to invest in the Bay.

Jim Parker and Fragrance owner Koh Wee Meng Pic miraclePR.com

With no disrespect to any other business in particular, Mr Koh said: “When I first came here I saw some hotels were run down. People should have a good feeling and enjoy coming to a hotel. That is why I came here."

He said with the help of Martin Rogers there was an opportunity in the Bay to invest and make things better. “That is what I hope,” said Mr Koh.

Was this a vote of confidence and should the Bay welcome other investment? "You have to welcome everybody," was his view.

Martin Rogers added: "I have lived here all my life. The natural physicality of the Bay is stunning. Mr Koh fell in love with it when he first came here.

“His hope was that by investing in new high quality brand hotels other established hotels would follow suit and invest in their properties. You can’t have just a few of a high standard."

Not that he was knocking accommodation providers. He emphasised there was always a place for the 'grand old ladies' of the resort - the Livermead House and Cliff are right on Hotel Indigo’s doorstep and have been operating successfully under the Rew family for decades. You also have the Grand just along the seafront and owned by well-known hotelier Keith Richardson.

Mr Rogers revealed Mr Koh’s 37 houses at Palace Gardens on part of the site of the former Palace Hotel in Babbacombe Road were now on the market as another part of his Bay portfolio. 

There was no mention of the five-star luxury hotel and spa originally planned for where the old Palace Hotel once stood. With the fall out from Covid,  cost of living, increase in construction costs and the economy generally that appears to have been kicked into the long grass at least for the time being.

We were taken on a whistle-stop tour of the 153-bedroom hotel - fashioned like a ‘Ship in the Bay’ with the waves of the sea just a few across the road - and part of IHG Hotels and Resorts luxury and lifestyle portfolio.

Hotel Indigo Agatha Christie cocktail

Mr Koh put the cushion right on where I had been sitting before we headed upstairs. Evidently he is a stickler for detail and you can see that coming through in his hotels.

The bedrooms, spa, gym, were first class. The view out of the front windows and on to balconies in some cases were simply breath-taking. It was like opening a door to the ocean.

And then we had the bar and rooftop terrace bar. Lovely touch with an Agatha Christie on the cocktails list and the view over the Bay? Gorgeous but something many of you will not be able to enjoy!

The hotel owners struggled to get planning consent to start with after concerns from neighbours over traffic and noise. It eventually got through planning by agreeing that only residents could use a bar with some of the best views in the land.

Not only that non-residents cannot use ANY of the hotel facilities - not the downstairs bar and restaurant or roof top terrace bar and bistro, not even the spa. You can’t even pop in for a coffee and croissant.

I am told non-residents are having to be turned away, including 50 at the weekend and the hotel now has to have somebody manning the entrance to make sure only paying guests are allowed in.

Inside the Hotel Indigo

I also gather that among those turned away was one of the neighbours who protested in the first place. 

What makes it even madder is the fact that the hotel obtained a liquor licence with no restrictions but it isn’t worth the paper it’s written on because of the planning condition.

The hotel owners will be going back to planners to get the non-residents restriction thrown out. Evidently they were told to carry out a traffic impact survey to support the application. They did but have been told to do it again at Easter when the traffic will be busier. 

Martin Rogers said: “The whole thing is bonkers.”

You couldn’t make it up ….

Torbay Council leader Dave Thomas had to explain to a resident who was interested in visiting what was happening at the Hotel Indigo only a few days ago

He explained: “I responded to a letter from a resident wanting to go to the opening that they couldn’t.”

He added: "Licensing and planning are two separate legal entities, but you need to get them lined up - which comes first, the chicken or the egg.”

He explained that when the application for a new hotel first came before planners it was turned down partly due to parking and traffic concerns.

When the application came back, the hotel operators agreed to a condition that the rooftop bar was not allowed to be used by non-residents.

“That is what got it over the line,” said Cllr Thomas.

He was quick to point out: “I am delighted that we have another purpose-built hotel in Torbay providing what the market is looking for.

“The sooner that issue, planning or licensing, can be resolved the better. I am sure it will be a fantastic place to go to have a drink or something to eat. I have not been in the hotel but I can only assume the views are great.”

I genuinely accept that the views and concerns of the hotel neighbours have to be respected and taken into account here but I am sure they and the hotel can come up with some kind of bigger-picture compromise.

I am also sure the ‘Baysayers’ will be rubbing their hands with Christmas glee at this utterly ridiculous situation, but let’s put this into context. With his three hotels and housing development, Mr Koh is investing around £100 million in the Bay and creating dozens of new jobs.

Yep, it's a shame the Palace Hotel scheme has not been delivered but hopefully that is still one for the future.

Mr Koh’s investment won’t stop here though. There are plans for the empty former Inn on the Green site next to the Ibis on Paignton seafront.

Martin Rogers reveals: “ Knocking it down for a car park was a mistake. I said we need to do something with the site that will help the hotels so we are investigating building a function and conference centre on the site.”

That sort of facility especially for business tourism is needed badly in the Bay and ticks so many boxes so I will be raising a glass to Mr Koh and Mr Rogers for backing the Bay.

Sadly it won’t be at the Hotel Indigo at the moment

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