Inside the hotel Richard Branson spent 25 years creating – from dream swimming pool to coastal views

They say good things come to those who wait, so it’s no wonder Sir Richard Branson is looking so pleased with himself. He has just unveiled the latest jewel in his empire – a head-turning hotel in Mallorca born from an extraordinary 25-year quest to make a dream come true.

A restored 16th century finca set amongst 1,300 acres on the island’s scenic and unspoilt north-west coast, Son Bunyola is a real moment to savour for Branson, who first fell for Mallorca’s charm during holidays with his parents as a small boy.

Fast forward several ground-breaking – and lucrative – decades. Having conquered the record business and the skies, and even buying his own private Caribbean hideaway, the Virgin boss became besotted with the idea of opening a hotel on the island that had been the backdrop to so many magical memories.

He hit the jackpot in 1994, stumbling upon a sprawling estate located on sublime stretch of shoreline backed by the rugged Tramuntana Mountains. At its heart stood a farmhouse, once home to local nobility and, much later, a working olive press before falling into disrepair.

“As soon as I saw the finca, I knew I wanted to bring it back to life and ensure this chapter of history wouldn’t be closed for good,” says Branson.

But failing to acquire the necessary permissions to operate it as a hotel forced him to sell it eight years later, only to buy it back in 2015 when work began in earnest to transform the estate into a retreat fit for a billionaire.

As Son Bunyola finally welcomes its first guests, there’s a big question hanging in the lavender-infused air: has this passion project, a quarter of a century in the making, been worth it? There’s only one way to find out…

Checking in

Visible from the iron gates at the very top of the long and vertiginous driveway, there’s a sense of occasion upon arriving at Son Bunyola. Terraced hillsides populated with citrus trees and olive groves tumble down the hillsides, but the real star is the beautifully restored finca, which looms larger and more impressive beyond each hairpin bend.

Up close it’s no less striking: a quiet and shady cobbled courtyard awaits beyond the entrance way that leads out to a sweeping sun-filled wraparound terrace, with mountain and sea views lifted straight from a Disney film.

There’s everything you’d expect from a five-star property, from…