Newport Residents Express Concerns Over Royal Victoria Hotel’s Future

Residents of Newport, a town in Shropshire, have voiced concerns regarding the future of a prominent local hotel. The Royal Victoria Hotel has been shut down since 2015, and its owner has indicated that the building’s condition may necessitate its demolition. Telford and Wrekin Council is scheduled to undertake urgent repairs and has expressed its intention to acquire the Grade II listed property. Local residents recall the hotel as a central hub for the community, frequently hosting large gatherings, particularly during the Christmas season. June Jones informed the BBC, stating: “Us older ones can remember the times when we used to have Christmas dos there. It was the big hotel in the town. It was absolutely lovely, it’s such a shame to have let it go.” Her partner, Keith Jones, further commented: “It used to be a hotel, it also used to be a place where you could go for a drink or a meal. We’ve lost all that.” Bernie Beech, proprietor of an antique shop situated near the hotel, remarked: “I’m from Newport, so I’d love to see the building, or at least the facade if nothing else, stay as it is, but I don’t think it’s going to happen.” He suggested that the probable expense of preserving the structure would be excessive, adding: “Probably the best solution to be honest, unfortunately, is that it comes down.” Mr. Beech recounted playing regularly at the hotel as a younger member of a band. He stated: “I remember as a teenager going to dances and parties there on a Saturday night and it’s part of Newport’s history. Not just in my lifetime, but 100-plus years more.” Several individuals recalled the significant Christmas parties hosted by local businesses at the venue, featuring a piano player for diners’ entertainment. Mr. Beech noted: “It was also the place where everyone who got married in St Nicholas’s Church had their reception.” The council has leveled accusations against Roger Brock, the owner of the Royal Victoria Hotel, for not performing essential repairs. However, Mr. Brock maintained that the council’s demands were unreasonable and stated his intention to escalate the issue with the government. He had previously informed the BBC that development delays for the site stemmed from planning complications and asbestos, with the situation deteriorating further due to the Covid pandemic. Mr. Brock has suggested that demolition could be the optimal solution, asserting that the probable expense of repairing the building left him with “no other option”. Conversely, the council has declared that it would not permit the hotel’s demolition. The ongoing work is anticipated to span approximately 13 weeks, and the council has indicated its plan to reclaim all associated costs from the owner. In a statement provided to the BBC, Mr. Brock claimed that council officials had “consciously frustrated my efforts to implement the planning consent for 12 flats that the council passed in 2018”. He stated his intention to write to the government, requesting intervention or an ordered inquiry.