North Devon hotel reopens after storm damage with a major £2m revamp

The Barnstaple Hotel has officially reopened following a major £2million revamp in the wake of damage caused by Storm Darragh last December.

The Brend Collection hotel saw the roofs ripped off some of its external accommodation buildings early in December 2024 by the high winds and although there were no injuries, the hotel was forced to close, but was able to reopen within five days to honour festive bookings.

READ NEXT: Barnstaple Hotel closes after storm damages roof

After careful planning, owners the Brend group decided to temporarily close the Braunton Road hotel in March this year to carry out essential repairs, covered mostly by insurance, but also to take the opportunity to invest in a raft of improvements.

These included transformation of the hotel’s popular Health and Leisure facilities, now offering modern amenities and new services for guests and members alike.

It reopened on Friday, August 1, with a refreshed new look.

Above: The outdoor pool at the Barnstaple Hotel has enjoyed a revamp too and the surrounding accommodation buildings have been fully repaired following Storm Darragh in December 2024. Credit: The Brend Collection

The Brend Collection said the highlight of the transformation is the refurbished Health and Leisure area, where the existing gym has been fully modernised with new equipment, an updated layout and a brighter, more contemporary feel.

A brand-new exercise studio has also been added and with it, the launch of fitness classes - a new benefit for members, offering multiple sessions each day, included in platinum memberships and available to other membership tiers.

The hotel’s largest function space, the Arlington Suite, has also been refurbished, while corridors and communal areas have been refreshed to reflect the modernised feel throughout the hotel.

Above: The damage caused by Storm Darragh to the accommodation building roofs last December.

READ NEXT: New head chef takes charge at award-winning North Devon bistro

Justin Brend, director of the Brend Collection, said: “We’re incredibly proud to reopen the Barnstaple Hotel after what has been a challenging but ultimately transformative period.

“The storm damage could have been purely negative, but thanks to the hard work and vision of our team, we’ve used it as an opportunity to invest in something better.

“I’d like to thank all the contractors and in particular, Pearce Construction, Barton Scaffolding and our own brilliant Brend maintenance team for their dedication and skill in bringing this project to life.”