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Roll Up Your Sleeves: The Joyful Beginning of Restoring The Chace Hotel

Right now, the former Iliffe Hotel looks a little… well… rough. Very rough. But every great comeback story starts exactly like this—and we’re delighted to say this one ends with the triumphant return of its original name: The Chace Hotel.

Yes, there’s damage. Yes, there’s decay.But there’s also huge potential—and that’s where the excitement lives.

Let’s talk honestly (and cheerfully) about what we’ve got

Inside the main building, the rooms are tired and long overdue some love. Vandals have smashed windows, fittings have been ripped from walls, and the place feels more “abandoned film set” than “welcoming hotel”.

The extension block hasn’t fared much better. Damp and mould have moved in uninvited, window frames are rotting, and a few windows are doing an excellent impression of falling out altogether.

Outside? The gardens have gone full fairytale wilderness. Monsterously overgrown, slightly feral, and dotted with trees that are either past their best or actively plotting against gravity.

Sounds bad? Maybe.Sounds like a brilliant restoration challenge? Absolutely.

Step one: safety first, fun later (but not too much later)

Before the magic happens, we start with the sensible stuff:

• Making the buildings safe and secure

• Stopping any further damage

• Removing hazards (including those slightly terrifying trees)

This is the “hard hat and clipboard” phase—but it’s also the moment where the future officially begins.

Step two: strip back the mess and meet the building again

Now comes one of the most satisfying stages: peeling back the damage to rediscover what’s been hiding underneath.

Out go the unsalvageable bits.In come surprises—original layouts, forgotten details, and clues to how the hotel once lived and breathed. This is where The Chace starts reminding everyone who it really is.

Step three: banish damp, rot, and mould for good

No shortcuts here—just doing things properly:

• Tackling damp at its source

• Replacing rotten timbers

• Clearing mould safely and permanently

It’s not glamorous work, but it’s deeply satisfying. Think of it as the hotel taking a long, restorative breath.

Step four: turn the jungle back into gardens

Those wildly overgrown grounds? They’re not a problem—they’re an opportunity.

The plan:

• Clear and make safe

• Reveal paths and spaces again

• Replant with care and intention

Soon, these gardens will be places to wander, sit, and enjoy—outdoor rooms waiting to be rediscovered.

Step five: bring back the name—and the confidence

Restoring the name The Chace Hotel isn’t just symbolic—it’s joyful. It’s about pride, history, and saying out loud: this place matters again.

And now for the best bit…

This is all going to change.

What stands today as damaged and forgotten is about to become loved, lively, and full of purpose once more. Restoration isn’t about erasing the past—it’s about giving it a future.

And this? This is just the very beginning.