Design revealed for Exeter’s Royal Clarence Hotel rebuild
ONE of the oldest hotels in the country could be open again in 2019 after it was devastated by a fire last year.
Designs have been made public today which show how the hotel, which dates back to the mid 18th century, could look after it is rebuilt.
The Royal Clarence Hotel, operating under the Abode brand, was destroyed in October last year after a fire spread from an adjoining property.
The designs for the rebuilt hotel show a frontage which return the property to its previous glory as one of Exeter’s most important buildings, just across the square from Exeter Cathedral.
Hotel owner Andrew Brownsword commented, “This is such a wonderful moment, after the initial heartbreak and months of deconstruction, to start to look towards to the future and to restoring the Royal Clarence’s historic frontage.
“As we said at the time of the fire, our aim has always been to preserve as many surviving features of historic and architectural importance as we can and, where possible, incorporate them into the rebuild. I’m delighted with the proposed new façade and we look forward to hearing comments from the people of Exeter and to restoring our corner of Cathedral Green back to its former glory”
David Shatwell of Buttress Architects added: “Having taken every effort to stabilise the building, save as much as possible of what remains and prepare detailed research into the history of the building… we are delighted to now be taking the first steps toward rebuilding this beautiful building.”
Related: Boutique hotels in Exeter
Photo © Brownsword Hotels
