Work on the Royal Clarence Begins – with a Community Time Capsule!

Something very special is happening in Exeter today. After years of anticipation, planning, and care, restoration work has officially begun on the Royal Clarence! This marks a new chapter for one of the city’s most treasured landmarks.

Once England’s first hotel, the Royal Clarence has stood proudly on Cathedral Yard for centuries, bearing witness to the stories, celebrations, and spirit of Exeter life. Though the fire of 2016 left its walls hollow, the soul of the building remained.

Now, we’re proud to say it’s finally time to bring it back.

At NooKo, we’re honoured to lead the restoration of this iconic building. Guided by heritage, rooted in sustainability, and designed with the future in mind, the Royal Clarence will soon become a contemporary collection of homes and commercial spaces — a place to live and work in the very heart of the city.

A Time Capsule for Exeter

To mark this historic moment, we’re creating something special, and we’re inviting the people of Exeter to be part of it…

We’ll be embedding a community time capsule within the very fabric of the building. This capsule will be filled with memories, photos, stories, letters, and mementoes that reflect Exeter’s connection to the Royal Clarence and the city itself.

Whether it’s where you had your first job, your wedding breakfast, or a favourite place to meet friends, we want to hear your stories!

Your memories will help shape the future of the Royal Clarence, and become a permanent part of its legacy.

Read more and submit your story

“It belongs to Exeter”

“This is more than a restoration project,” says NooKo co-founder Max Sayers. “It’s about returning a piece of Exeter’s soul to the city centre and doing it in a way that’s thoughtful, sustainable and future-focused.”

“The time capsule is our way of embedding the treasured memories of our community into the heart of the building, so as we move forward into the next chapter of the building’s story, they are not forgotten, but remembered as an actual piece of the Royal Clarence.

This building will be built by us, but it belongs to Exeter.”

Craftsmanship, Conservation, and Community

The redevelopment will be delivered with the support of leading architects and trade specialists . It will blend traditional craftsmanship with low-impact, sustainable methods, ensuring that the Royal Clarence is not only restored, but reimagined to last.

As we begin this journey, we invite the people who know and love this building best — you — to help shape the story we’re writing together.

Let’s bring the Royal Clarence back, together.

Have a Memory to Share?

We’d love to include it. Click below to submit your story, photo or memento to the Royal Clarence Time Capsule and help us preserve a little piece of Exeter’s heart for generations to come.

Click here to make a submission