Award-winning chef and restaurateur Adam Handling MBE has confirmed that Ugly Butterfly 2.0 – his bold new vision for sustainable British luxury – opens on schedule today, July 9th, at The Headland in Newquay. Just ahead of the opening, he has revealed a little more of what guests can expect.
“We’re really letting the natural surroundings take the lead – from the seasonal ingredients on the menu to how we’ve designed the space. Even the sunsets you can see from every window have played a part in shaping the look and feel of the place”, says Handling.
Local artist Olly Howe has created a mural, which covers the restaurant exterior, capturing the sapphire, ruby and gold colours of the Ugly Butterfly logo. Aged-bronze butterfly installations appear to flutter gracefully around the artwork.
Inside the restaurant, visual nods to Cornwall’s breathtaking natural landscape are woven throughout the space. Soft pink and pale green tones echo the shifting light from day to night, creating a backdrop for striking floral arrangements, featuring dried flowers and branches and dainty individual table lamps glow, to add a soft warmth in the evening.
Ugly Butterfly breaks down the barriers of fine dining, so you can eat your way at your leisure but this doesn’t stop Chef Adam Handling MBE’s theatrical touch shining through. With a Champagne trolley to kick things off and an infusions trolley towards the end of your experience and plenty more theatre in between. The new Champagne trolley will feature a varied selection of Champagne and sparkling wine alongside Adam Handling’s favourite pour – the iconic Krug Grande Cuvée, which guests will be able to enjoy for around half the price this exceptional Champagne is typically offered for in restaurants.
With a key goal to re-house his team, the Ugly Butterfly 2.0 kitchen and front of house team are all joining from the recently closed Ugly Butterfly in Carbis Bay.
Says Adam Handling of the move: “With our Ugly Butterfly family coming back fighting and our elevated menu offering, we’ll be gunning for a Michelin star at Ugly Butterfly 2.0 and there’s no better place for us to be when shooting for it.”
Ugly Butterfly 2.0 will be open for lunch, afternoon tea and dinner.
The restaurant menu offers a flexible ‘4×4’ offering, enabling guests to build their own journey through the South West’s larder, with four dishes in each section – plus the option to start with Porthilly oysters. Highlights include ‘Bluefin tuna, preserved truffles, elderflower’, Adam’s signature ‘lobster, wagyu’ using sweeter, smaller St. Ives lobsters, ‘Texel cross Lamb, tandoori cauliflower, nasturtium’, and freshly baked Tarte Tatin, served tableside. Although not from the South-West, bon bons from the Adam Handling chocolate shop are making an appearance too.
Outside, a relaxed terrace menu serves indulgent comfort food that really champions Cornish seafood with a laid-back twist. From the chilled/raw seafood menu there is a generous Lobster & crab cocktail.
There’s also a Fish & Chips meal deal, with Champagne and dessert, to bring back those nostalgic memories of days on the beach, and an amazing choice of burgers, whilst the dessert section features playful puddings like rice pudding and knickerbocker glory, using fresh fruit from neighbouring Mitchell Fruit Garden.
Afternoon tea at Ugly Butterfly 2.0 is a modern, ingredient-led celebration of Cornish produce. Served in four courses – snacks, savouries, sweets and scones – the menu showcases regional flavour and creativity, with highlights including a ‘Hot-smoked fish tart’, ‘Hazelnut, salted caramel bun’ and ‘Origin coffee cake’ and ‘Cornish scones’ with a selection of jams and Rodda’s clotted cream. Guests can also opt to enjoy it with free-flowing bubbles, such as Chef Adam’s favourite, Krug Champagne.
The space seats 42 covers inside, 24 on the terrace, and 26 in the bar, designed to create a relaxed yet theatrical dining experience that breaks down the traditional boundaries of luxury dining. The restaurant offers an outstanding wine list, with over 250 bins, making it one of the most extensive in Cornwall.
The Headland – a family-owned, five-star resort recognised as one of Cornwall’s most iconic hotels – shares Adam’s values around local sourcing, sustainability and warm, inclusive service. With its mantra of “five-star Cornwall, not formal”, The Headland offers a true Cornish experience from its clifftop location, with 86 rooms, 39 self-catering cottages, award-winning spa and wellness facilities and multiple eateries.
Ugly Butterfly 2.0 is open seven days a week during the summer season and five days a week for the rest of the year.
To make a reservation contact reservations@uglybutterfly.co.uk or call 01637 839739 .
