Ugly Butterfly Restaurant to Reopen at The Headland Hotel in Newquay This July

Published On: 18 June 2025Last Updated: 18 June 2025By CornishStuff

Big move for one of Cornwall’s most talked-about restaurants

Adam Handling MBE is bringing a bold new version of his award-winning restaurant to Newquay this summer. Ugly Butterfly 2.0 will open on 9th July 2025 at the five-star Headland Hotel, overlooking Fistral Beach.

The restaurant is relocating from Carbis Bay, St Ives, marking a fresh start and a new partnership between two names that have helped shape Cornwall’s hospitality scene. Adam called the move “a more fitting home for our most sustainable brand” and said the team is aiming high. “There is no doubt that we will be gunning for a Michelin star in this restaurant.”

A new take on sustainable British luxury

Ugly Butterfly 2.0 keeps its ethos and spirit but takes things up a notch. The flexible ‘4×4’ menu lets guests build their own experience from four dishes in each section, with the option to start with Porthilly oysters.

Highlights include:

Cornish tuna, preserved truffles, elderflower
Lobster and wagyu, reimagined with sweeter, smaller St Ives lobsters
Lamb, tandoori cauliflower, wasabi leaf
Cornish apple tarts, baked fresh and served tableside
Bon bons from the Adam Handling chocolate shop

The terrace menu is more laid-back but still packed with flavour, offering seafood platters, lobster rolls and crab sandwiches in homemade milk buns. A nostalgic Fish & Chips set menu with Champagne is also on offer, alongside desserts like trifle and knickerbocker glory made with fruit from Mitchell Fruit Garden.

Afternoon tea with a twist

Afternoon tea will be served in four courses – snacks, savouries, sweets and scones – and features local favourites with a modern twist. Think pea tart with caviar, hog’s pudding sausage rolls, and Cornish scones with Rodda’s clotted cream. Guests can also upgrade to enjoy Polgoon Seyval Blanc or Krug Champagne.

Breaking the mould

Adam said the new Ugly Butterfly will feature food stations, letting guests see dishes being made. “There will be theatre, there will be smiles and, most importantly, there will be a real celebration of the best of the South-West,” he said.

The restaurant will seat 50 inside, 20 on the terrace and 30 in the bar. The wine list will include over 500 bins, making it one of the most extensive in Cornwall.

A shared vision with The Headland

The move to The Headland – a family-owned, five-star resort – is based on shared values of sustainability, local sourcing and community. The hotel offers 86 rooms, 39 cottages, a spa and several places to eat and drink. Veryan Palmer, Executive Director at The Headland, said: “The shared values of sustainability and community resonate between our operations, and we look forward to seeing the partnership develop.”

All team members from the previous site are being retained, with staff working across both businesses. This reflects a long-term commitment to year-round employment in Cornwall’s hospitality sector.

Adam sets up home in Cornwall

Adam also owns nearby gastropub The Tartan Fox and now lives in Cornwall. “I love the people and this place so much, I want to be part of the fabric of the community,” he said.

Ugly Butterfly 2.0 will open seven days a week during summer and five days a week during the rest of the year. Further updates on the launch, menu and team will be shared soon.