Residents of the seaside village of Hope Cove in Devon have expressed strong opposition to the sale of the historic Cottage Hotel, fearing its transformation into a luxury waterfront venue by new, Dubai-linked owners will alter the community's traditional character. The hotel, which has been operated by the same family for over 50 years, was sold off-market for an undisclosed multi-million pound sum to Beach Barefoot Hospitality, a UK entity linked to an international hotelier based in the United Arab Emirates.
Mehdi Rheljari, the acting director of Beach Barefoot Hospitality, is described as a French/Moroccan entrepreneur and hotelier residing in the UAE, with a portfolio that includes luxury hospitality projects and large-scale developments in Africa and the Middle East. The sale price for the 45-bedroom property was not revealed, though it was advertised with a guide price of £8 million for the freehold and operating business.
Villagers voice concerns that the three-acre site, which boasts panoramic views of Bigbury Bay and direct beach access, could become a new destination for the affluent, mirroring the changes observed in the nearby town of Salcombe. Locals describe Salcombe as having been transformed into an expensive playground for the wealthy, with many former hotels converted into apartments.
"There's always speculation about people changing expensive boutique hotels, like Salcombe has become with a lot of apartments," said Dave Clarke, a resident who has witnessed the changes in Salcombe. "I was working in Salcombe in the late 60s early 70s and the face of it changed completely when all the main hotels became apartments. It turned it into the expensive playgrounds of the rich."
Residents like Clarke and Vernon Moss, who has stayed at the hotel with his family annually since the 1950s, are concerned about the potential loss of the hotel's family-friendly atmosphere and affordability. "My biggest concern is that they will change this environment because this is a family holiday place," Moss stated. "I think it needs to be kept as a hotel to keep everything in the village. If this was holiday flats, it would be dead during the winter."
Harbour master Sean Hassell, a resident since 1973, shared the community's nervousness about the takeover. "We knew it was on the market probably about three months ago and everyone was always very nervous about who was going to take it over," Hassell said. "It's iconic really, it's part of the village, part of what we do. So there was a concern about whoever was taking it over."
Hassell added that while the new owners, understood to have profited from the oil business in Dubai, might invest in renovations, he stressed the importance of maintaining Hope Cove's distinct character. "We're not Salcombe, we are Hope Cove. I think we're a lot nicer than Salcombe, but they can't push those prices to Salcombe prices," he noted.
Zofia Wisniewska, a shop owner and 19-year resident, echoed the sentiment, stating, "People here don't like changes; they like to keep the old coastal path the way it is, and they want to protect it." She expressed apprehension about large developments and the possibility of the village becoming too expensive for regular visitors.
Beach Barefoot Hospitality, in a statement, expressed excitement about the purchase and outlined plans to reposition the hotel as a "waterfront luxury venue delivering exceptional service to guests seeking a unique, resort-style environment." The sale marked a second-generation retirement for the Ireland family, who had owned and operated The Cottage Hotel since 1973.
William Ireland, a director of the previous ownership, expressed pride in the hotel's reputation over five decades and wished the new owners success. Independent hotel broker Simon Stevens, one of the joint agents involved in the deal, described the hotel as having a "rich history and an impressive, long-standing reputation" and noted a buoyant hotel industry encouraging investment.
Another local, Will Murray, a company director who has lived in the village since 1983, acknowledged that change is inevitable but expressed a preference for sympathetic development. He voiced a strong concern about the potential conversion of the property into flats, which he believes would be detrimental to the village's character, a fate that has already impacted other coastal communities.
The purchase by Beach Barefoot Hospitality also includes a staff house and two luxury apartments.