An application to convert Margate’s Nayland Rock Hotel and adjoining buildings at 1-8 Royal Crescent into a restaurant, function space,16 serviced apartments and 50 flats has been submitted to Thanet council.
Nayland Rock owners Brede Hotels have teamed up with Arcvelop architect and developers, responsible for projects including The Albion redevelopment in Ramsgate, for the £20m scheme.
The proposals will include an external restoration of the Nationally Listed Heritage Asset, and internal alterations to allow for 25 dwellings within the original residential section of the building; 24 new dwellings within part of the former Nayland Rock Hotel; with the remaining area of the hotel converted to an apart-Hotel, linked to a restaurant at the ground floor.
As part of the restoration project, the existing ground floor extension will be removed, and historic features will be restored, including the entrance pillars to Royal Crescent.
The Royal Crescent was constructed in around 1850 and numbers 3-5 became the Nayland Rock Hotel in the late 19th century to serve visitors to Margate’s growing popularity as a seaside resort.
The hotel went through periods of prosperity, periods of neglect, closures, changes of ownership, and use. It has been used for hotel accommodation, and in more recent decades has been used for temporary housing, periods of vacancy and as a backdrop for filming, including scenes for series Killing Eve and King of Thieves, starring Michael Caine.
The seafront building is Grade II listed and Arcvelop say the plans place “the historic and architectural significance of the site at the centre of all design decisions.”
These include retaining the original structural walls, reinstating historic sash windows, and preserving the proportions and rhythm of the terrace. The proposal also converts part of the vacant hotel back into private dwellings, as it was originally. Numbers 1 to 2 Royal Crescent will be retained as an apart-hotel. The seafront frontage will be reinstated to its former glory and the building will include a central entrance lobby with a new lift and feature staircase.
Planning documents say: “The redevelopment of the Nayland Rock Hotel represents a heritage led regeneration project that restores one of Margate’s most significant seafront landmarks.
“The proposal balances architectural conservation and contemporary adaptation, securing the long-term future of a Grade II listed building through sensitive repair, sustainable design, and a carefully considered mix of uses.
“By reinstating lost historic features, repairing original materials, and reintroducing active ground floor uses, the scheme restores the building’s civic prominence and enhances the wider Royal Crescent streetscape.
“The integration of high-quality residential apartments, serviced accommodation, and a seafront restaurant ensures the building remains viable, vibrant, and connected to Margate’s growing cultural and tourism economy.”
Arcvelop Investor Group (AIG), led by isle investors and architects Marc Turnier and Paula Corell, previously won a top title at the 2023 Property Investor Awards for the conversion project in Hibernia Street of a former rock sweet factory.
The firm has also completed the restoration and conversion of a part Grade II listed building in Ramsgate’s Albion Place, bringing the site back to residential housing with the creation of 24 homes.
Other projects include the conversion of a former nursery and garage in Southwood Road into five flats and a detached dwelling comprising Faversham Villa and permission to convert the former NatWest bank in Ramsgate High Street into six flats.
The Nayland Rock Hotel application is awaiting a planning permission decision. View the documents on Thanet council’s planning portal, reference F/TH/26/0130
About time, this building is beautiful and is a wasted asset.
Surely Margate is crying out for a decent seafront hotel? This will be a great missed opportunity.
Not really, yes there is the peak season where there’s a lack of decent accomodation but nowhere near the year round demand that would support a good hotel.
It’d need for there to be a well established and used conference centre for there to be the year round demand necessary and that is’nt even suggested as being a possibility at either dreamland or winter gardens.
Good. This building could be something special.
This is the same arcvelop that made a regurgitated dogs dinner of the albion development? Loweest skilled labour looking through googly eyed glasses working with not a spirit level, string line or common sense.
Should be a sight to behold after.
Rather a shame as the building deserves much better.
That was another building stood empty for over 10 years…
Maybe people should stop complaining so much when people try to make a positive change to our area!
We could do with a lot more of these kinds of projects and a lot less people like you complaining and contributing nothing..
Really, so we’re going to applaud the vandalising of heritage buildings because there’s no willingness to put some effort in.
As for contributing nothing, have a look round the buildings that took part in the dalby square project and pick out the 5 that still look the best, one will be the one i did.
Then there’s my own home, that was a neglected wreck in thanet and now no longer is.
I do have a bit of skin in the game and can recognise decent work when i see it. There’s been an outstanding renovation in Hawley Square, go take a look and see how things should be done.
Details matter, take a trip over to the Albion project and have a close look at the work that was done, then tell me with a straight face that it’s been done well.
Vandalising heritage buildings?! You clearly don’t know what you’re talking about or you’re a DFL… did you actually see the Albion building before they redeveloped it?? It was a complete eyesore!
You should also check Historic England – the building was classified as not listable since it was completely defaced by the Council post war… therefore how can you say it’s vandalising a heritage asset ? Someone needs to get their facts straight 😂
And please, repainting your house doesn’t count as restoration work, we’ve all done that 🤣
Maybe if you’re so experienced, you should go and borrow the money yourself and do the next one…oh, we’ll all wait for 101 excuses why you can’t?
Yep, used to go in the building when some of the offices were used by ramsgate harbour staff.
Suppose i could be classed as a sort of dfl, but been here most of my life.
Bit more than a coat of paint.
No need for excuses, i’m a manual worker and would have no means to borrow the sums involved nor the business skills or experience to attempt to do so.
All of which has nothing to do with my view that the standard of workmanship at the Albion is very poor.
think you got him here, Lindsay 😂✌️
I actually live on Albion Place and can say that the workmanships very good throughout!
So sad, Margate needs a good Hotel. it was grand in its day and could be again with investment.
It’s worth noting that Royal Crescent was never intended to be an hotel, but ‘luxury’ Marine Residences for ‘well to do’ people.
The foundation stone was laid in 1856, but it wasn’t until 1883 that part of the crescent was converted into the Nayland Rock Hotel.
So, this is ‘back to the future’.
Just get on with it, then move to get on with demolition of the rest of the seafront a rebuild that, then move on to Eaton Road, and then on and on and on. Get rid of the old bring in the new.
Good. Get it done. Probably a good chance do well in winter judging by the number of people using air bnb all year round in the area
About time this grand old building has a sensible future plan. Albion buildings look impressive, and in keeping with the area. Much better than being derelict. Looking forward to this project enhancing Margate seafront.
Superficially from a distance mybe, up close the workmanship and attention to detail is appalling, a prime example of cutting every corner and saving every penny.
Look into the front stair wells and one had an incoming electric cable crossing over a step. A door bell had been rendered around and the stucco repairs were done by a blind man using a hoola hoop to create a straight line.
Another ‘expert’ who has done nothing himself to help the area…
The Albion development has added so much to the ramsgate area, everyone I speak to has said it’s one of the best developments in the area.
You’re clearly someone who just wants the area to fall into further decline rather than supporting the regeneration!
You make some grand assumptions. Patently based on little knowledge of older buildings and their restoration if you feel the albion development is a shining example of what can be done. Even their publicity brochure at the time was a misleading and overly flattering piece of artistic licence. I’m no expert but can do far better than the awful workmanship shown at the albion.
That the building has been bought back into use and looks way better than it did , there is no doubt, but it was’nt done well and let the same hamfisted artisans loose on the nayland rock would be a tragedy. But no doubt there will be an insufficent budget to do it properly.
It’s not just me, ask around if people think it’s positive for the area.. I think you’ll find that most people agree it is and not many people agree with you!
‘I’m no expert but can do far better’ – yeah yeah. never have I heard so much cobble… the most stereotypical ‘down the pub chat’.
The buildings beautiful and we should show support for this, not complain and say I could do it better… when we all know that’s clearly not true and never going to happen 😆
You will note that in my comment i said it looks better than it did. Heritage has a wider meaning that just being listed. I’m sure there are those who say it looks good, but get close and see the detail and it’s anything but. To do the same to the Nayland would be a travesty.
Then there was the promotional brochure produced by the developer, computer generated pictures that erased the parking opposite and had trees showing at the seaward end of the picture. Total fabrication and deceving.
I could certainly have done better, but in no way would i have the financial wherewithal to fund such a project and i’ve never suggested i have.
As before a shining example of what is achievable sits splendidly in Hawley Square, workmanship i can only dream of aspiring too, it’s another level.
typical bitter old men stuck in the past – unhappy with everything that involves change.
thanets full of people happy to criticise everything, and live off benefits eating uber eats all day!
Bollocks,we all know what it’s gonna be used for.
I don’t. Tell me.
And yes – I’m going to to add my usual comment – what about the parking? The area is already always full of parked cars. Where are all the extra ones going to go? It is time this country rethinks planning and parking and comes up with plans to cope as everywhere, not just here in Thanet, it is becoming a nightmare. So many cars, many roads now can’t cope with two way traffic due to amount of street parking and so many roads where people now park partly on pavements which then causes other complaints and problems.
Even new developments don’t take into account the fact that most households now have two, even three vehicles, let alone visitor parking. We need to start thinking about residential multi-storey car parks. Or, as in somewhere I stayed in Florida, a central multi storey car park and then four wings going out from that with apartments. You then drive to the parking spaces (2 per apartment) allocated on your apartment level.
But yes, it will be great to have the Nayland Rock restored.
“It is time this country rethinks planning and parking and comes up with plans to cope as everywhere”… No, it is time people rethink believing that they need cars. At 63, I’ve never driven in my life, but I’ve always made sure that I live near a train station and frequent bus route. They certainly don’t need one living opposite Margate station.
Join the real world – people are never going to give up their cars. So many need them for work – there’s not always a train station or bus stop nearby. Some people have a job when they have to attend various appointments / locations in a day – they don’t have the time to wait around for buses / trains. Some people, like me, have health problems, and would have a very limited life without a car to say nothing of the problems of getting to GP and hospital appointments.
Your attitude is like
People need to cycle more, like they do in most European countries. This country is getting like America, with fat people waddling in and out of their fat cars.
true, fat people waddling to and from their cars
I hope they bring those once-beautiful iron railings on the steps leading down to the promenade back to their former glory.
This is much needed and what a stunning building this will be. I want to live there!
Underground car parking would be useful. By the way where will people be laid to rest , the crematorium and cemetery must be nearly full by now, will the new DFL’s etc go back to where they came from in little caskets.
Absolutely beautiful building back in the day, needs a lot of money spent on it!
Good luck to the developers… hopefully it will be done quick.