Permission granted for 40-bed hotel in Cliftonville

The site of the new hotel (google maps image)

Planning permission has been granted for the creation of a 40-bed hotel in Cliftonville.

The development, submitted by Long Eaton Development Ltd, will be in Northdown Road at the empty plot of the former Beano café and amusement arcade which were gutted in a blaze in 2009.

Planning documents say the venture would create “a boost to local employment, the redevelopment of a vacant brownfield site in a sustainable location, and the delivery of a mixed-use scheme.”

Image ARCHITORIUM

The plan includes a ground floor restaurant and ancillary storage facilities for use by the hotel. There will be five off-street car parking spaces, including one disabled parking space, and these are intended for use by the hotel’s  staff.

The plans were submitted last July with some design amendments made in November. Permission was granted on Friday (February 26).

The hotel rooms will be on the rear of the ground floor as well as on the first, second and third floors. There will also be a ‘green’ roof and the design is pledged to “incorporate a sympathetic architectural design which takes cues from the detailing of surrounding buildings.”

The developer states: “The development proposed can be expected to generate up to 12 full time jobs contributing to the availability of employment in the district.”

Hotels granted permission

Margate Estates Dreamland hotel image

Other hotel plans for Margate include the 124 bedroom, 5-storey ‘lifestyle’ hotel proposed by Dreamland’s owning company, Margate Estates.

Approved in February 2019, the six storey hotel will also contain a gymnasium, meeting rooms, a shop or café with frontage onto Marine Terrace, a restaurant and bar at the ground floor and a rooftop bar.

Under the proposals Ziggy’s rooftop bar and an adjoining empty building will be flattened. It will also use the space at ‘Godden’s Gap’ where the amusement arcade stood. The four-storey Mr G’s arcade burnt to the ground in 2003. Some 120 firefighters tackle the blaze at its height.

It is not clear what impact the pandemic, which has caused the closure of Dreamland, will have on the scheme.

In May 2018 approval was also given for a seven-storey, 117 bed hotel in Cliftonville.

Guy Hollaway Architects submitted the application for the multi-coloured hotel on the corner of Ethelbert Crescent.

The building, proposed for Hosers Corner, will have a unique multi-colour metal façade, which the architects say “ reflects the famous Margate deck chair and plays on the regeneration of tourism and culture that is being seen throughout this eclectic seaside town.”

The hotel is expected to cater to the rise of artists moving into the town attracted by the rejuvenation of Dreamland, Turner Contemporary and the new Carl Freedman gallery  and Tracey Emin studios at the former Thanet Press building in Union Crescent.

The scheme is yet to be implemented.

Architect’s image

The former Fort Road Hotel in Margate gained planning permission in 2019 to return the site back to hotel use with a restaurant.

Plans include adding an extra storey to the building with a sunken roof terrace, although the height and design has been amended since the original application was made.

Applicant Mr Gidley is also proposing a replacement entrance canopy and timber windows at the property which has been empty for some 27 years.

The former Fort Castle pub was put on the market by Thanet council as part of its asset disposal programme. It sold at auction in 2018 for double the guide price of £180,000.

A design document drawn up by Fleet architects says plans are to: “Reopen Fort Road Hotel as a characterful small hotel including 14 bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms.

“Within the large basement will be an additional self-contained suite, in addition to stores for the hotel and kitchen.

“An additional third floor, with a large roof terrace, will be added to the building at present roof level to contain 4 of the 14 en-suite bedrooms. The proposal also introduces a new staircase and a passenger lift to improve access to the upper floors.

“The ground floor will be returned to its former use as a dining room serving guests and visitors.

“Our intention is to retain internal features, such as hearths, to grant character and emphasis the scale and former uses of the spaces. Interventions for the hotel are characterful but contemporary without resorting to pastiche.”

It is proposed that drop off for hotel guests will be on Fort Road to the front of the building. For suppliers this will be along the side road – Fort Mount.

The historic building was likely frequented by artist JMW Turner. A TDC report said: “ The Fort Road Hotel (previously the Fort Castle Public House) is one of the last surviving buildings in the area today that the artist JMW Turner would recognise. Turner spent 15 years ‘weekending’ in Margate with Sophia Booth (whose house was opposite) and, as a noted drinker, it seems inconceivable that he did not visit the establishment.”

The property is listed on maps of Margate going back to 1821, although it may be older.

Image Phil Dadds Design

Last August permission was granted for an application to create a 12 room hotel above Harbour Street Bazaar (Heaven and Hell Gifts) in Ramsgate.

The application was submitted by property owner Richard Lawson with plans from Philip Dadds Design.

The entrance to the hotel rooms will be at the front and the side of the building. A new shop front is also planned.

Eight jobs will be created.

Image GPM/Margate FC

Last June Margate Football Club submitted a planning application for stadium redevelopment at its site, including the East Stand, Coffin End (North Stand), a 120 bed hotel and further facilities.

The application was developed with hotel partner IHG Hotels and the brand Holiday Inn Express to reflect increased demand for hotel rooms in Thanet. It is also aimed at providing a first-class facility for all teams and a sporting hub for the community.

The East Block will be used for a 120-bedroom hotel together with restaurant and bar facilities. A decision on this scheme is yet to be made.

36 Comments

  1. Why on earth would anyone want to stay in a hotel in Northdown Road when they could instead find somewhere coastal?

    Would be better to revamp the Nayland Rock Hotel.

    • My understanding is that when funds permit the Nayland Rock will be updated. They also own the parking spaces in front of the building> Once update has taken place parking will be for residents only.

    • Northdown Road is a changing area. It is like a London street in Margate full of new interesting shops and only one road away from the seafront. Cant stand old fashioned thanet people like you still putting it down for a bad rep it had 5 years ago when its changing all the time

      • Yes I agree-these efforts are leading the change of depression into job creation-lifting the area up out of its declining years- it’s a good thing undoubtedly- opposition to job creation doesn’t make any sense

  2. Where on earth are all these visitors to the hotels going to park, especially in Northdown road, Fort hill and the new Dreamland hotel site. Obviously all arriving by train!

    • Quite a few people do still go on holiday by train or coach (well I do in normal times), but agree that SOME parking is essential these days!

    • Not forgetting that Dreamland company also now own the carpark and have an agreement with the leaseholders of Arlington House.

    • I know. Absolutely ridiculous and against TDC’s own published guidelines. But once Dreamland closes, the attraction as a pop venue disappears, and with it all the imagined visitors.

      • Some of the above comments amaze me. Especially the ones along the lines of “why would you put a hotel or restaurant in such a horrible, drug-addled place. Such a shame it’s gone to ruin”… Well, how on earth is it going to climb back up if everyone writes it off as a lost cause, whilst ruminating on the glory days? Surely you’d be happy that others are putting in effort to revive the area with the cafes and shops and new businesses? Northdown Road is exciting and chaotic, and like Ramsgate it’s got a bit of fire in it’s belly again. Take a stroll there sometime and you might be surprised what you find. (And no, you won’t catch herpes from just wandering down the street, calm down love).

    • Should point out, the site on Northdown Road does have a substantial parking area at the rear and it’s own access road.

  3. Great to see this eyesore being given new life but I do hope the parking is not going to be using local side turnings, getting a spot can be tricky enough without the influx of additional vehicles.

    All these hotels are in close enough walking distance to the Lido, now getting that redeveloped and back into use would be be very good indeed.

  4. None of these ‘hotels’ will be built.just a ploy to sell on with pp.Why is permission ever conditional with a deadline date?the answer is in the question.no money is ever required as part of a commitment from the developer,one may ask why but Guy Holloway has several elegant planning proposals ove 10 years old and nothing has happened to them….

  5. The planning consent puts a higher price on the land. Back handers get you what you want.

    It would be nice to see all these pieces of brownfield land redeveloped though, including the old Butlins site on Eastern Esplanade. They were all destroyed by fires to collect insurances by the owners then the land left to decay. TDC should be compulsory purchasing them and making sure they are developed instead of allowing this corruption to ruin the area for decades longer.

    The only good out of it is the small birds that have taken over the Northdown Road site. You can hear the chatter of hundreds of sparrows each time you walk past. They have little habitat like this to make their home so must come from afar to get there.

  6. Thanet Council should get their priorities right and concentrate on delivering services that the electorate currently pay for. By this I mean emptying litter bins on a daily basis and keeping parks and verges etc. mowed and tidied. The area is an absolute disgrace compared with neighbouring districts such as Dover and Canterbury.
    In my opinion, councillors in Thanet are consumed with fulfilling their own agenda. It must be said though, nothing has changed since the days of Cyril Hoser et al!!

    • Totally agree- the basics are totally neglected- how can the electorate believe in any leadership?
      When policy is so lacking- daily emptying of street bins isn’t hard to achieve in other districts-
      Why are the elected so blind ?

    • You said it exactly like it is.
      Consumed by pandering to elite minority and not the wider community or silent majority.
      Only aiding further apathy towards the future.
      How can we believe in leadership when it can’t even manage street bins ?

  7. I cannot believe that there are plans to put a hotel 🏨 in such A run down drug infested ,dirty ,troubled area as Cliftonville. I remember when it was a joyful experience to shop in northdown road ,JUST LOOK AT IT NOW.

    • Again northdown Road has changed since you went there 10 years ago. It’s no where near as dangerous at night as ramsgate Town. Got less closed shops than all the other main high streets other than Birchington and arguably broadstairs. Get with the times

      • Yes agreed- the area is enjoying a sea change.
        What’s happening is what we have demanded for decades.
        How is then possible to complain- when it’s arriving it’s happening it’s regeneration in front of our eyes .

        Job creation is a remedy to the issues that bother so many.
        Lack of jobs is a serious issue here .
        New hotel new jobs

    • Yes that may be true . Yet surely positive vibes and investment into the area is what team Margate has been fighting for ?
      How can we take a position to halt what we as a community have demanded?

    • Yes just look at it now ?
      Fighting back to a shadow of its former self .
      Many people are totally dismayed at these answers to the problem being criticised.
      I blame the elected for leading so poorly- making us feel depressed about the area – with limp leadership- uninspiring to all of us

  8. Some of the above comments amaze me. Especially the ones along the lines of “why would you put a hotel or restaurant in such a horrible, drug-addled place. Such a shame it’s gone to ruin”… Well, how on earth is it going to climb back up if everyone writes it off as a lost cause, whilst ruminating on the glory days? Surely you’d be happy that others are putting in effort to revive the area with the cafes and shops and new businesses? Northdown Road is exciting and chaotic, and like Ramsgate it’s got a bit of fire in it’s belly again. Take a stroll there sometime and you might be surprised what you find. (And no, you won’t catch herpes from just wandering down the street, calm down love).

  9. I would gladly send a stroll if only I could afford a couple of bodyguards! Don’t pretend thers nothing wrong when it’s plain to see there is plenty wrong just open your eyes!!!

    • Oh dear Richard. You are obviously fairly old and scared and living on passed opinions like alot of thanet people do about the place. Nowhere near as bad as 5 years ago

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