Historic Bognor hotel set to open after 30 years

The Carlton Hotel will be returned to its former use around October. Leaseholder Minden Hanley is about to begin the final stage of his nine years of restoration to enable visitors to stay overnight. The 200,000 programme will enable 12 en-suite bedrooms to be created on the second and third floors of the hotel. Four holiday flatlets will also be formed from the current layout. A further en-suite bedroom and a holiday flatlet will be opened on the first floor. About half of them will be ready for this autumn's relaunch. The rest will follow soon after. The building's distinctive fascia along the seafront will be repainted as part of the refurbishment. The hotel will definitely retain its Carlton name but Mr Hanley said an additional title, such as 'lodge', could be added to reflect the modern accommodation. "It's a labour of love restoring this building," he stated. "I love this building and I am absolutely determined it will be as good, if not better, than it was before. "Having seen almost all the other historic buildings in the town pulled down, it's even more important to keep this one." The hotel was built along The Esplanade in 1881, with 28 bedrooms and communal bathrooms in Mr Hanley's estimation. Bognor's links with the royal family prompted an entrepreneur to create the hotel from four houses which were the only section of a grandiose housing crescent designed to turn Bognor into the Princess Royal of watering places to be built. The hotel's finest hour came in 1945 when the Duchess of Kent's three children stayed there to recuperate at the seaside from flu. Prince Edward (9), Princess Alexandra (8) and Prince Michael (3) were joined by their French governess for almost a month in Bognor. The hotel, though, declined as the number of holidaymakers dwindled in the 60s and 70s. By the mid-80s, it was being used as a B&B hostel for benefit claimants. This ended and the building's four floors were left empty. A bid by Royal Hotel owner David Coombs was made in 1992 to return it to a hotel. He opened a bar on the ground floor but was unable to bring his other plans to fruition. He sold the building's lease in September 1997 to a development company. This wanted to create flats but owner Arun District Council ruled out the idea. In mid-1999, experienced publican Minden Hanley (64) decided to use his 25 years in the licensing trade to bring some much-needed care and attention to the building. "It was in a very dilapidated condition. It was not helped by the fact a chimney fell through the roof in 1986 and crashed all the way through the ground. "It was lucky no lives were lost," he commented. He has since spent about 150,000 on essential repairs as well as improvements to the building. His first move was to open the Prom Bottle Bar in August 2000 on the hotel's ground floor. The use will remain when the hotel opens but the type of bar may change to reflect the new clientele and to provide them with meals in a cafe/restaurant operation. Mr Hanley said the extra business is likely to generate some additional jobs. The building currently has about 20 staff in the summers and eight in the winters because of the reduced opening. The one uncertainty he faces is the progress of Bognor's regeneration proposals. His guests could find themselves unable to park or get close to the hotel if that part of The Esplanade is paved over as development St Modwen is suggesting. There is also the doubt about the form of the building which will take the place of the nearby Regis Centre. 'Arun wanted an hotel here and that's what they are going to get. But I would like the council to work with me as far as the regeneration proposals are concerned,' he stated. He added that he was also anxious about the pier's future and its use as a nightclub.