Barnstaple Hotel Reopens After Storm Damage with £2 Million Refurbishment

The Brend Collection has officially reopened the Barnstaple Hotel following a major £2 million project, prompted by damage caused by Storm Darragh in December 2024.

Aside from the roof works, the improvements include transformation of the hotel’s popular Health & Leisure facilities, now offering modern amenities and exciting new services for guests and members alike.

Although the storm caused significant roof damage, the hotel managed to reopen within five days to honour festive bookings and avoid disruption to Christmas plans. A full programme of works was then carefully planned, and the hotel temporarily closed in March 2025 to carry out both the essential repairs and a wider investment in upgrades.

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

While insurance covered most of the storm-related roof repairs, the Brend group chose to invest well beyond the necessary, using the closure as an opportunity to elevate the guest experience and improve key areas of the hotel.

The highlight of the transformation is the refurbished Health & Leisure, 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 brand-new benefit for members, offering multiple sessions each day, included in platinum memberships & available to other membership tiers.

The hotel’s largest function space, the Arlington Suite has also been refurbished, offering a stylish setting for weddings, events, and conferences, while corridors and communal areas have been refreshed to reflect the modernised feel throughout the Hotel.

Justin Brend, Director of 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.”

The hotel is now fully open and looks forward to welcoming guests, locals and leisure members back to enjoy its warm hospitality in a refreshed and revitalised setting.