Royal Clarence Hotel

The Royal Clarence was a Grade II listed hotel in central Exeter, located opposite the Cathedral. The hotel was made up from five separate buildings historically, the Well House, two narrow buildings dating from the 17th century; The Royal Clarence, a Georgian four storey building; The Exeter Bank, a four storey 18th century former bank; Lamb Alley, and No.10 St Martins Lane.

In October 2016, the building was destroyed by fire, with only the building shell remaining.

We were appointed by project managers, Thomasons, to work with the owners, Brownsword Hotels, to restore and rebuild the hotel creating a building that the city could once again be proud of.

We had two distinct roles on the project firstly as conservation architects, assessing the damage, documenting the remaining structure and features, and through extensive research creating an in-depth report on the remaining significance of the building with recommendations for its repair and restoration.

Secondly, we were commissioned as architects to redesign the hotel. The proposals, informed by extensive consultation, see the building’s iconic frontage restored, with a new structure sitting behind it.

Fundamental to the design approach was the rationalisation of the circulation within the building. Prior to the fire, the Royal Clarence had complicated and confusing circulation patterns, developing organically as it had from separate historic buildings. Our concept introduced a new central atrium around to which clear circular routes were designed. The atrium also allowed natural light to the be brought to the centre of the deep plan building which vastly improved the internal environment and offer for guests.

The proposed circa 70 bedroomed hotel offered improved room sizes and quality in comparison to the original in line with the owner's aspiration to create a 5* hotel.

Alongside the bedrooms, the basement included a new spa area with treatment rooms and sauna / steam rooms. The ground floor includes new restaurant and bar which reinstates the separate Wellhouse Public House. 

The restaurant was designed with two distinct areas - one a more informal tea room and the other a more formal dining space. 

Finally, an extension has been added to the building. The new fourth floor houses suites which have private terraces which look out over the Cathedral. The suites are set back from the historic façades and are not visible from street level thus avoiding detraction from the like for like restoration of the historic front.