Royal Clarence Hotel

The Royal Clarence Hotel stands in Cathedral Yard, Exeter, beside the ancient cathedral. Its site once housed lodgings for the cathedral’s singers before becoming a fashionable meeting place in the 18th century. The building was first called a hotel in 1770, though earlier London use of the word is recorded. Over the centuries it welcomed figures such as Admiral Nelson and Franz Liszt. The hotel was gutted by fire in 2016, damaging its historic structure and neighbours. The hotel’s importance lies in its long role in Exeter’s social life and its Grade II listed status. It was rebuilt after the fire with care for its heritage, using laser surveys to recreate lost details. Plans now include luxury apartments and a restaurant while keeping the original façade. The restoration is led by architects Buttress and supported by Historic England and the city council. Andrew Brownsword, who once owned the hotel, remains involved in its future. Visitors find a rebuilt façade that still shows traces of the 15th-century timber framing. Inside, the new spaces include elegant apartments and a ground-floor restaurant with views toward the cathedral. The surrounding Cathedral Yard remains a quiet green near the city’s heart. The restored building stands as a reminder of Exeter’s history and its ability to renew itself.