Work begins to restore fire-hit historic hotel in ‘ambitious and sensitive’ project

Work to restore Exeter’s fire damaged Royal Clarence Hotel building – one of the oldest in the city – is now underway.

The building on Cathedral Green, which dates back to 1769, was destroyed by fire in October 2016.

Exeter-based developer NooKo plans to build a combination of residential and commercial units and said the project – which it described as ‘ambitious and sensitive’, would be completed in 2027.

“This is more than a restoration project,” said NooKo co-founder Max Sayers. “It’s about returning a piece of Exeter’s soul to the city centre and doing it in a way that’s thoughtful, sustainable and future-focused.”

As part of the redevelopment, the developers are creating a community time capsule.

Exeter residents are encouraged to share their memories, photos, stories, letters or mementoes of Royal Clarence for the time capsule which will be placed in the building.

Sayers added: “The time capsule is our way of embedding the treasured memories of our community into the heart of the building, so as we move forward into the next chapter of the building’s story, they are not forgotten, but remembered as an actual piece of the Royal Clarence.

“This building will be built by us, but it belongs to Exeter.”

The Royal Clarence is thought to be the second building in the UK to be called a hotel.