Thanet council planning officers are recommending refusal of plans for a five storey extension and the opening up of the existing basement to create 10 self-contained residential units and nine holiday lets plus a spa, coffee shop, function room and conference facilities, at the San Clu in Ramsgate.
The project, which would also include the creation of a new entrance and demolition of an existing extension and outbuilding, has been deemed ‘incongruous’ and, officers say, will ‘result in an unacceptable loss of light.’
Currently the San Clu, in Victoria Parade, has 44 rooms, bar/restaurant, sauna and gym (for staying guests) and event/banqueting services.
The submitted plans are for the extension to provide 19 self-contained flats, 10 would be sold on the open market while nine would be retained as holiday accommodation.
The basement which was partially infilled after a fire would be opened up to house a gym, spa, sauna and changing rooms.
At the ground floor of the Grade II listed building there would be a coffee shop, function room with bar and kitchen and a two-bedroom flat.
A planning statement says: “It is envisaged that the spa facilities, coffee shop and function room will be accessible to general members of the public, as well as the residents of the new flats and hotel.
“In addition, it is proposed to install traditionally designed railings along the entire Victoria Parade and Albert Road frontages. This would reflect the historic railings which originally marked the boundary of the site and would be considered to be a heritage benefit.”
The San Clu currently employs 31 staff and the applicant says the expansion will create 20 further jobs plus construction employment.
The proposal has attracted 17 submissions in favour, citing benefits such as provision of family accommodation, improving tourism and the economy and use of a brownfield site.
However, there have been 52 letters of objection, raising concerns over an overbearing impact, loss of light, lack of parking and infrastructure, noise, lack of affordable housing, inappropriate design, inadequate consultation and viability.
Eight neutral submissions requested swift boxes to be included in any development.
Thanet council’s conservation officer has also objected due to a loss of open space and objection to the design, saying: “The glazed link section and glazed balustrades on the balconies appear at odds with the listed structure. It appears neither modern enough (to appear as a distinct disparate entity) or similar enough to fit harmoniously with the main building in terms of materials, fenestration pattern, detailing.
“For example, the proposed use of hybrid pvc / glass fibre frame with double glazing within a large and prominent extension on a listed building, in close proximity to other listed buildings, regardless of its style, is not considered to be a sensitive or well thought out approach and would not be supported.”
The hotel reverted from the Comfort Inn to its original San Clu title after ownership was taken on by sisters Hema Kanani and Rina Gandhi in 2023 following the death of their father Kishore Kanani.
The application for the expansion has been made by Ameeco Holiday Apartments Ltd which is owned by Hema and Rina.
The application has been called to Planning Committee by Cllr Corinna Huxley who wants members to consider whether it is overdevelopment of the site and by Cllr Steve Albon to consider the merits of the proposal.
It will be discussed at a meeting on April 23
Potted history
The San Clu is one of the longest standing hotels in Ramsgate, operating since 1887.
Originally called Hotel St Cloud (pronounced the French way “San Clu”) the hotel boasted over 50 bed and sitting rooms, a ladies drawing room, reading and writing rooms, smoking rooms and also stabling and space for motorcars.
On June 29, 1904 the hotel hosted an eight-course meal for Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll, who was in Ramsgate for the opening of the Royal Victoria Pavilion, which had been erected in memory of her mother Queen Victoria.
In 1919, the hotel was sold for £10,000 and the name changed from St Cloud to San Clu. It changed hands twice more up to 1926 and in 1928 was gutted by fire, which destroyed the first four sections. The blaze was so great that it could be seen in Deal and Dover.
Following the fire, the burnt out shell was demolished and that section has never been rebuilt.
What was left was restored into a 14 bedroom hotel and after one year it was back in business. That section is now the reception foyer.
In 1935, the hotel was sold once again, this time to Mrs Elsie Robson, or Ma Robson, as she became affectionately known. Mrs Robson was windowed at the early age of 35 with two young sons. She ran the hotel almost single handily.
During the Second World War the Army took over and the hotel became a large billet for troops. Mrs Robson moved to Stafford where she opened a restaurant, which she named The San Clu but she returned in 1944 and regained occupancy. She then purchased a third house, giving the hotel an extra 26 rooms and towards the end of 1944 she was able to purchase the last house along Granville Terrace, bringing the hotel back to almost its original size.
The venue hosted many famous people, such as Randolph Churchill, Benny Hill, Norman Wisdom, Sir Edward Heath, MP Jonathan Aitkin, Jeremy Beadle, Archbishops Long, Fisher, Ramsey and Coggan, as well as royalty from Belgium, Denmark and Thailand.
In 1973 another fire broke out, No-one was hurt but there was considerable damage meaning the hotel’s closure for three months although the bar was able to stay open during this time.
Mrs Robson passed away in 1984 aged 90 and her grandson Simon, took over the business.
In 1989, Mr Kanani bought and refurbished the hotel. Since then guests have included band “Madness” who borrowed their room key to display on the cover of their albums.
Such was the excitement of the fans that the switchboard was jammed constantly for three weeks after the release of the album, with calls coming from as far away as China from fans wanting to book the same room as Madness.
Sisters Hema and Rina took over and rebranded the site in 2023 with a newly refurbished bar and restaurant area.
They need a car park first.
If planning is refused, I hope nothing happens to the building, like it has to so many others.
So basically putting the hotel back to its original size!!
Yet people want to moan and stop progress in this area as usual!
Maybe they could sort out their customer service levels before expanding? Maybe sorting out the rooms and doing them up. I’m interested in where the money is coming from though, cause it never seems busy whenever I’ve stopped for a refreshment.
So you have any evidence to support your potentially libellous statement?
No problem putting it back to it’s original size, but if planning permission is refused, well, just saying. What happened to the St Placids hotel ??
i tend to agree about the rumours about this property , it was alleged it contained many illegal immigrants earlier in the year ? and yes it would be awful if they had an accidental fire
1. Permission should not be granted if there is not a car parking area. You cannot expect all the extra cars using the function rooms, hotel rooms, flats and extra staff, to all park on the current streets.
2. Insist on solar panels – as should be done with any new buildings to reduce our reliance on foreign fuel for our lighting and heating requirements.
The place has always had a touch of ‘The Overlook Hotel’ feel about it
Failed planning permission, probably burn down