The Nayland Rock Hotel, a Victorian-era landmark in Margate, has hosted famous guests including Charlie Chaplin and Mick Jagger, according to multiple reports. The hotel stopped operating commercially around 2008 and was later used for asylum seeker accommodation and as a film location. It housed asylum seekers from 2000 and more recently has been used as accommodation for workmen and foreign students.
Developers Arcvelop and Brede Hotels have submitted plans for a £20 million overhaul, according to multiple reports. The plans involve converting five adjoining properties and six to eight Royal Crescent into 50 flats, 16 short-stay apartments, and a two-story commercial unit. The project would remove the existing ground floor and reintroduce historic features including entrance pillars to Royal Crescent.
The developers described it as a "heritage-led regeneration project that restores one of Margate's most significant seafront landmarks." They added that it would be a "balanced, resilient, and contextually responsive development that celebrates the heritage of the Nayland Rock Hotel and contributes positively to the regeneration and identity of Margate's seafront." They also stated that "there is a clear need for sensitive restoration and re-purposing of these buildings to secure their future and reinstate their positive contribution to the local character."
It is not yet known whether Thanet District Council has approved the plans or what the exact timeline for the project is. Questions also remain about the impact on the building's structure and the current occupants.