Regency Room to undergo major remodel
The red color palette will be changed to blues and golds. Photo courtesy Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center.
The Regency Room at Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is getting a major face-lift for its 75th birthday.
The hotel’s main dining room will be closed from Jan. 2 through mid-February of next year while it gets new drapery, upholstery and carpeting, as well as a new wall that will divide the space into two rooms, according to hotel general manager Gary Walton.
The wall will be made of opaque French doors that can be left open for busy times in the dining room, such as Sunday brunches or holiday dinners. But they can also be closed to create a private space for special events such as corporate gatherings or rehearsal dinners. Walton said the private dining space will accommodate about 75 people.
The Virginia Room, a smaller private dining room located in the rear of the restaurant, will remain in place. Walton described the new color palette for the space as “blues and golds,” which will be a change from the bright red and gold carpeting and drapes. He said the Regency Room has not had any updates for about 5 years.
Another big part of the project will involve building awnings over patios outside both the Regency Room and the Pine Room Pub. These patios will be available for outdoor seating when weather permits, and there will even be heaters and fans to extend the season, Walton said.
With the unveiling of the new Regency Room, the hotel also plans to introduce a new menu that stays true to old favorites such as peanut soup and spoon bread but also introduces diners to some new selections, said hotel spokesman Michael Quonce.
While the Regency Room is under renovation, diners will still be accommodated in the Shenandoah Ballroom and in the Pine Room Pub.
December 12, 2012 - 11:51 AM
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This is great! Love Sunday Brunch and the she crab soup.
Seeing and reading this, I can’t help but think of some very rich history associated with the Pine Room that I’ve never seen in public mention of and deserves not be forgotten.
During WWII, the Government contracted with, then, Pennsylvania Central Airlines (PCA) to train pilots for the C-47 the commercial version being the DC-3 passenger airliner. PCA chose Roanoke’s Woodrum Field to do this. They did not have commercial service here. Many dedicated local people here were hired for this effort, which is a little known factor of Roanoke’s contribution to the War effort. My father was a mechanic on the C-47′s engines.
PCA rented out the Pine Room, renovating it and turning it into an employees lounge and hang out place for the workers….After the war PCA became Capital Airlines in 1948, was headquartered at Washington National Airport. Capital Airlines was taken over in 1961 by United Airlines. It was my goal to try and get a plaque hung in the Pine room recognizing this history through the former Capital Airlines Assoc., but it dissolved before I was able to do it.
The Pine Room is very fun for a quick holiday drink after shopping downtown.
Change of decor in the dining room will be interesting. If carpet is dark blue or even lighter, bet the cleaning staff will have fun keeping it looking fresh as dark colors always show the dirt..
My cousin Bill Brenton was in management back in 1960′s. Lots has changed since then.