Glory days back for landmark hotel

By Juliette Maxam

A HOTEL from a seaside town's heydays that has been empty for more than two years is set to be restored to its former glory.

The Royal Hotel on Clacton seafront was the resort's first hotel, but for the past two years it has been empty. Before that it was used as a hostel for asylum seekers and the homeless for a year.

Now specialist estate agents Bond, of Clacton, have found a buyer who wants to do up the landmark Victorian building and reopen it as a hotel.

Estate agent, Stephen Andrews, said contracts had been exchanged and completion was due on the deal in the next fortnight.

He remained tight-lipped about the sale price or the identity of the buyer, who snapped up the hotel within days of it going on the market, but said the purchaser owned other properties in Clacton and wanted to invest more in the area.

The buyer will take over the freehold of the whole site, which includes pubs the Moon and Starfish and the Rocking Horse and the Pavilion Garage.

Plans have already been drawn up for a £750,000 scheme to refurbish the hotel, install extra leisure facilities and give the building a major facelift.

It is hoped the hotel, in Marine Parade East, will be open for business in time for this year's summer season.

Tendring District Council's cabinet member with responsibility for regeneration, Mick Page, welcomed the move.

“It's good news for Clacton. It used to be the premier hotel and it's still missed. A number of functions, such as weddings and dinner dances, used to be held there. Then it deteriorated and was used for asylum seekers,” he said.

Two years ago Tendring District Council turned down a plan to turn the hotel ballroom and eight bedrooms into a bar and a restaurant with staff accommodation. Two other schemes to refurbish the building have also fallen by the wayside.

juliette.maxam@eadt.co.uk