An exciting year ahead at Belmond La Residencia hotel in DeiàApril 13, 2018

Now that spring is here, it’s time to take a look at what’s happening at Belmond La Residencia, the beautiful, chic but a tiny bit funky hotel in Deià.

There is no question that the Belmond La Residencia hotel in Deià is utterly luxurious. Acclaimed designer Matthew Williamson, who recently designed “Suite 67” for the hotel – featuring his signature vibrant colours and luxe textures – described it as “magical and unique…it oozes a very subtle, understated sophistication”.

I’m told that Matthew has fallen in love with Deià and bought a home here.

But Belmond La Residencia is also friendly and welcoming. If you live in the village or are visiting, there are always plenty of reasons to call in and soak up the ambience of refined tranquillity. I spoke to Hanna Bornebusch, recently appointed as the hotel’s PR Manager, to find out what’s happening at the hotel this year.

Before she enlightened me, I asked Hanna how she felt about her new position. “It’s wonderful to be here,” she said, “and I’m delighted to work at Belmond La Residencia hotel in Deià as it’s a very special place with breathtakingly beautiful surroundings, good energy, positive vibes and friendly colleagues. The hotel also has a wonderful connection to the local community.”

Art on the agenda

Belmond La Residencia is proud of the part the hotel plays in nurturing and celebrating the local art scene. Wander the corridors into reception and it’s easy to be distracted by the intriguing paintings on the walls. The hotel has a sculptor in residence – Juan Waelder – and fine artist Alan Hydes has a studio next to its El Olivo restaurant. Alan offers Master classes in painting and drawing.

Every Monday afternoon from 17.30 onwards in the summer months, artists who live and work locally gather to show their work on the hotel lawn. This is an appropriately informal way to meet some of the people whose artistic vitality helps give Deià and the hotel its unique spirit.

Throughout the year, the hotel hosts exhibitions in its Sa Tafona gallery. The highlight this year, as ever, will be the annual exhibition by Deià artists whose work is part of the Sheridan Collection. The launch of a book on this unique collection will celebrated at the exhibition opening in early June.

There are also four exhibitions of work by local artists, Colectivas, taking place this year.

Individual artists whose work will be shown include Deià favourites Mariana Alzamora, Arturo Rhodes and David Templeton. David also features in the hotel’s events calendar as the singer in the legendary Pa amb oli band.

Music in the air

When Pa amb oli performs on the lawn of Belmond La Residencia in early August every year something truly special happens. It’s as if the anarchic, rock and roll aspect of the village’s wild and rich cultural history has invaded for the night. The band plays its full-tilt boogie under the stars, usually joined by special guests and the lawn is packed with locals and guests all dancing the night away.

As Pa amb oli seem to get better and better, this year’s Deià rock and roll extravaganza shouldn’t be missed.

When Pa amb oli performs on the lawn of Belmond La Residencia in early August every year something truly special happens.

On a less frenzied note, the hotel will also host performances by Mallorquin jazz acts Hard Bop Drivers on 20 April and Piolet Swing on 7 September. There will also be a classical music performance in collaboration with the Vincent Ferrer Foundation, the charity close to the hotel’s heart.

Basking in that special ambience

I began by saying that Belmond La Residencia hotel in Deià is as friendly and welcoming as it is luxurious. For me, it’s a perfectly tranquil place to meet friends in Deià. I particularly love to take coffee on its shaded terraces with their quietly spectacular views of the landscape around the village, clear down to the sea.

Perhaps I’ll see you there.