England’s oldest hotel could be replaced by a £17million luxury apartment complex after being destroyed by a fire five years ago.  

The Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter, Devon, a Grade II listed building, is being converted into luxury residences with a bar and restaurant.  

The fire, which started at a fine arts gallery in 2016 and spread to the hotel’s roof, decimated the historic interior.

Aerial photographs showing the destruction caused by the event were shocking. Locals claimed that it ripped the heart from the centre of the city.

This site has been credited with being England’s very first hotel. It also hosts the likes Beatrix Potter, Lord Nelson, and Thomas Hardy. 

Although efforts were made to make the property a hotel again, it is now planned to convert it to a restaurant on ground level and luxury apartments upstairs.

The ambitious scheme, named the Royal Clarence,  was revealed on Wednesday after the site was acquired by South West Lifestyle Brands in August 2020 for around £2million.

Plans are being put forward to turn the Grade II listed Royal Clarence Hotel in Exeter, Devon - which dates back to 1769 - into 23 luxury homes, complete with a restaurant and bar (Pictured: Artist's impression of the new proposed site, which plans to restore its original facade)

There are plans being made to transform the Grade II listed Royal Clarence Hotel, Exeter, Devon, into 23 luxurious homes with a bar and restaurant.

The hotel was completed gutted by a devastating fire in 2016, which residents said 'ripped the heart out of the city centre'

In 2016, the hotel was completely destroyed by a fire that residents claimed ‘ripped out the heart’ of the city center.

The blaze started in a next door art gallery before spreading to the roof of the hotel (Pictured: Locals watch on as the blaze destroys the historic site)

It started at the next-door art gallery and spread to the rooftop of the hotel. (Pictured, Locals observe as the fire ravages the historical site.

An artist's impression of the proposed site shows how the exterior will look almost identical to how it was before the blaze

Artist’s rendering shows the proposed location as it would look after the fire.

The new site will house 23 luxury homes, with a mix of two and three-bedroom apartments (Pictured: Artist's impression of a courtyard)

The site will host 23 luxury homes with a mix between two and three bedroom apartments. 

The new homes will include three duplex apartments over two floors (Pictured: Artist's impression of duplex balcony)

Three duplex apartments will be built on two floors. (Pictured by artist’s impression: Duplex balcony).

The proposal said it wants to restore as much of the original interior as possible (Pictured: Artist's impression of living room inside one of the new apartments)

It proposed to keep as much original interior as possible. 

Artist's impression of the proposed apartments shows doors opening onto a large rooftop balcony

Artist’s impression shows the doors leading onto large roof terraces.

The ambitious scheme was revealed on Wednesday after the site was acquired by South West Lifestyle Brands in August 2020 for around £2million (Pictured: Artist's impression)

The ambitious scheme was revealed on Wednesday after the site was acquired by South West Lifestyle Brands in August 2020 for around £2million (Pictured: Artist’s impression) 

The back end of the apartment complex will feature red brick walls and juliet balcony windows

Red brick walls will be found at the back of the complex, as well as juliet balconies windows.

The proposed apartment complex is filled with leafy communal areas, pictured here in an artist's impression

You can see the proposed apartment block filled with communal green spaces. This is an artist’s impression. 

Large trees and a water feature offer a zen vibe inside the proposed luxury complex (Pictured: Artist's impression)

A large number of trees, as well as a water feature create a serene atmosphere inside the luxury apartment. 

At the centre of the Royal Clarence a courtyard space will be 'exposed to the elements and designed to be a low maintenance amenity space', the plans explain (Pictured: Artist's impression)

The Royal Clarence will have a central courtyard area that is ‘exposed the elements’ and designed as a low-maintenance amenity space. 

A bannister free staircase with an adjoining glass wall is pictured in an artist's impression of the interior

Artist’s impression: A staircase without bannisters and an adjoining glass wall are pictured 

The apartments will boast spacious balconies while tall windows will flood their interiors with light (Pictured: Artist's impression)

These apartments will feature large balconies, while high windows will flood their interiors in light. (Pictured – Artist’s impression).

The duplex apartments on the upper level are set to be blessed with ample rooftop space (Pictured: Artist's impression)

Apartments on the second floor will have a duplex with ample roof space.

A restaurant is penned for the ground floor of the proposed complex, which has been dubbed The Royal Clarence (Pictured: Artist's impression)

The ground floor is being planned for a restaurant. It has been called The Royal Clarence. 

The proposal vows that both the homes and the commercial space on the ground floor 'will be finished to a high-end, luxurious standard reflecting the importance of the Royal Clarence'

Proposal promises that the residential and commercial spaces on ground floor will be finished “to a high-end luxurious standard, reflecting the importance the Royal Clarence”. 

Built by the Cornish family of a heiress in 300 years, the hotel survived the Blitz of WWII and was only saved by fire from an art gallery. 

As England’s first hotel, The Royal Clarence was built in 1769. 

That’s because on September 7, 1770, an advert appeared using the word hôtel for the first time published by the landlord and Frenchman Pierre Berlon.

It has hosted many distinguished guests over the years, including Lord Nelson and Beatrix Potter, as well as Thomas Hardy.

Following his death in Sidmouth during a visit, the father to Queen Victoria was also there embalmed.

Edward, the Duke de Kent, was kept in front of his return from Windsor on January 23, 1820.

The building was constructed by William Mackworth Praed, who built it in 1769. His family name derives from a Cornish Heiress.

In 1769, Exeter also had its first bank.

It would remain strong in the 20th century. In 1916, the hotel opened a bar called “Cocktail Bar” to cheer up high society residents during the First World War.

Even though it was bombed by the Germans in 1942’s Blitzkrieg, the building survived. 

The tragic truth is that the site, which was built in 1970, was destroyed by a fire at a nearby art gallery in 2016.

A fire started by an adjoining company and reached the rooftop of the hotel. It caused it to burst into flames. 

David Cornforth (historiographer, writer, Exeter memories website) stated in 2016 that the fire at Exeter’s historic hotel was “a catastrophe for the city”. He added: “It’s very sad to see the famous historic hotel in such a state.”

The new applicants have pledged to restore the historic building back to its former glory by reconstructing the original façade and exterior, and retaining as much of the building’s history as possible.

This proposal calls for 23 luxurious homes with two- and three-bedroom apartments on each of the four upper floors. There are also three duplex apartments on the upper two floors.

It would include a restaurant on the ground floor and a bar, as well as two function spaces.

If the plan is approved, one of the functions rooms would be open to the public to allow them to view the historic fabric of the building that was exposed through the fire.

An inner courtyard is included, with brick spine walls surviving and a Roman wall newly exposed. The area can be lit naturally by natural light.

New apartments will preserve as much of the heritage possible, and they are designed to highlight historical details.

James Brent, Chairman of Akkeron Group, stated that he was delighted to announce his plans to revive the much-loved Royal Clarence Building in Exeter. This building had been abandoned for five years after the devastating fire of 2016.

“Our plans envision the Royal Clarence being restored so that it becomes a central point within Exeter’s Cathedral Yard. A ground-floor, accessible to the public, will offer a high-quality bar and restaurant space.

‘We are also focused on retaining as much of the building’s historic fabric as possible, restoring the famous façade to its former glory, so the Royal Clarence will look much as it previously did before the fire, and form a pivotal point in the centre of Exeter, as an asset for the city to be proud of, and a legacy for future generations.

“Our plans were prepared with great respect for the building and its special location. For their support over the past months, I want to thank Historic England as well as Exeter City Council.

The scheme will create 182 full-time positions in Exeter during construction, and 44 jobs after it is completed.

Andrew Brownsword Hotels (the former owners) had stated that the hotel would be rebuilt following the fire. In 2017, they obtained planning permission. However, the project was not completed and later was deemed insolvent.

A public consultation took place today, before the full application for planning was submitted to Exeter City Council in the early part of next year. 

Built in 1769, the Royal Clarence Hotel is believed to be England’s first hotel.

On September 7 1770, an advert appeared using the word hôtel for the first time published by the landlord and Frenchman Pierre Berlon.

The hotel was completed gutted by a devastating fire in 2016, which residents said 'ripped the heart out of the city centre'

In 2016, the hotel was completely destroyed by a fire that residents claimed ‘ripped out the heart’ of the city center.  

The devastating fire in 2016, which broke out at a fine art gallery and then spread to the hotel's roof, gutted the building's historic interior (Pictured: Firefighters tackling the blaze)

A devastating fire that erupted in 2016 at an art gallery, then reached the roof of the hotel’s building, destroyed its historic interior. 

A water hose blasts the fire at the Clarence Hotel in 2016, which decimated the historic site

2016: Clarence Hotel fire is snuffed out by a waterhose

Police cordoned off the road as firefighters tackled the flames which brought down England's oldest hotel

The road was closed off by police as firefighters attempted to control the flames at England’s oldest building. 

The hotel had stood for 300 years and survived a pounding by German bombers during the Blitz in 1942

It had been standing for over 300 years. The hotel survived the Blitz of 1942.

A picture from 1878 shows passengers boarding a horse-drawn coach outside the Royal Clarence Hotel

This 1878 photo shows people boarding horses-drawn coaches outside of the Royal Clarence Hotel. 

A picture of the Royal Clarence Hotel taken in the early 20th century, hundreds of years after it was built

This is a picture of The Royal Clarence Hotel from the 20th Century, many years after its construction. 

A photo of the Royal Clarence Hotel taken in the early 1900s

Photo of the Royal Clarence Hotel, taken in the beginning of 1900 

It has hosted many famous guests over the years, including Beatrix Potter, Lord Nelson and Thomas Hardy.

After his death in Sidmouth, the father of future queen Victoria was also buried there. Edward, Duke of Kent, was not allowed to return to Windsor until January 23, 1820.

The building was constructed by William Mackworth Praed, who built it in 1769. His family name derives from a Cornish Heiress.

In 1769, Exeter also had its first bank.

The hotel survived the 20th Century and was able to open a bar called “Cocktail Bar” in 1916. This opened up to the public, cheering up high society residents during World War I.

David Cornforth (historiographer, writer, Exeter memories website) stated in 2016 that the fire at Exeter’s historic hotel was “a catastrophe for the city”. He added: “It’s very sad to see the famous historic hotel in such a state.”