The future of an historic hotel in Ashby which closed its doors after more than 200 years is to come under the spotlight as part of new proposals.
The Grade II Listed Royal Hotel in Station Road, Ashby, closed unexpectedly in March and now a scheme is in the pipeline - and those wanting to find out more will need to attend a public exhibition.
The invite to the event simply states that the Royal Ashby Project will be "bringing new residential opportunities for Ashby, and reopening the signature Royal Hotel."
The hotel has been a landmark in the town since the early 19th century. Oakland Hotels Limited is behind the latest scheme.
It is not clear from the invite as to whether the venue will be reopened as a hotel although plans for 28 homes on the old nearby Bath Grounds have now been withdrawn, the agent who submitted the original application at Coda Planning Ltd revealed.
The invite states: "At the exhibition you will be able to see the proposed plans that will enable the restoration and reopening of the Royal Hotel. This exciting project will consist of quality residential properties as well as additional benefits to the local area.
"Residents are invited to inspect the plans, meet the project team and provide any feedback they may wish."
A formal planning application has not been submitted to North West Leicestershire District Council for the hotel so the full details are not yet clear.
No-one from the firm behind the scheme was available for comment when the Burton Mail made approaches.
The Royal Hotel closed in March due to financial pressures and the need for investment after facing a £3.5 million renovation bill to bring the building up to modern standards.
The public exhibition is to be staged at St Helen's Heritage Centre, in St Helen's Church, Church Yard, in the town from 5pm to 8pm on Friday, July 6, so residents can view the plans.
Councillor Trevor Pendleton, portfolio holder for regeneration and planning at North West Leicestershire District Council, said: "The Royal Hotel is an important heritage asset in Ashby and we have been working with the owners to ensure the building is secure and kept in a good condition while the hotel is closed.
"We are committed in working to protect this important building and making sure it has a future.
"North West Leicestershire District Council will consider any application for development when it is submitted by the owners."
The hotel, which had 34 bedrooms, was boarded up in March after management decided the business was no longer viable.
It has been a fixture in the town since 1826 and was a popular venue for weddings and conferences but has now been trading at a loss for three years.
The hotel was run by a private business called Oakland Hotels Limited which, according to the Companies House website, has two directors – Klaus Michael Bach, of Sugworth, near Sheffield, and Simon Peter Dawson, of Donisthorpe.
Oakland Hotels said the cost of renovating the hotel at the time would have been £3.5 million.
Before there was a hotel on the site, it used to be home to the Ivanhoe Baths, built in 1822, which were a public spa baths and used to attract people from across the country.
The Royal Hotel was built next to the baths four years later to accommodate visitors to the growing spa.
However by 1884 the baths became unused and after decades standing empty and derelict, the baths building was demolished in 1962.
