Don't turn our village into another Chelsea-on-Sea! Devon neighbours declare war on Dubai-linked outsiders over plan to turn historic family-run hotel into luxury waterfront venue

Residents of a seaside village in Devon have declared war on Dubai-linked outsiders over plans to turn a historic family-run hotel into a luxury waterfront venue.Locals in Hope Cove fear the sale of the iconic Cottage Hotel could lead to the transformation of the traditional coastal retreat into a replica of nearby Salcombe - dubbed 'Chelsea-on-Sea'.The prominent landmark has been run by the same family and used freely by the community for more than 50 years.But it has now been bought off-market in a multi-million pound deal by Beach Barefoot Hospitality, the UK trading arm of an international hotelier understood to be based in Dubai, who are looking to reposition the hotel as a 'luxury waterfront venue'. Mehdi Rheljari, the company's acting director, is a French/Moroccan entrepreneur turned hotelier, and gives his place of residence as the United Arab Emirates. His projects include a luxury hospitality model, a reimagining of traditional Japanese homes, and large-scale developments across Africa and the Middle East. The sale price for the 45-bedroomed property has not been revealed, although it was advertised with a guide price of £8million for the freehold and operating business.Residents fear the move could turn the three-acre site, with panoramic views of Bigbury Bay and direct beach access, into a new playground for the 'rich and famous'. Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove, which is set to be turned into a 'luxury waterfront venue' The full view of Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove, which is beloved by locals living in the area Harbour master Sean Hassell, 60, said locals were 'nervous' about who was going to take over the hotel The village has prided itself on its quaint, traditional feel - in stark contrast to other nearby tourism hotspots that have seen costs rocket and locals priced out by second home owners.The hotel currently features spacious public areas, a seasonal bistro, ice cream parlour and art studio - but villagers said it was in danger of becoming too exclusive and going a similar way to Salcombe - situated just five miles away.Dave Clarke said he has seen the impact of changes in Salcombe in recent years and feared the same could happen at Hope Cove.'There's always speculation about people changing expensive boutique hotels, like Salcombe has become with a lot of apartments,' he said. '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.'No doubt there will be certain changes but they need to be sympathetic to the village. The big concern of residents locally and of regular visitors is that it goes upmarket too much and becomes prohibitive.'Mr Clarke has called on the new owners to come up with an 'honest plan of what they're going to do'.He added: 'My family have used it for years. Obviously prices go up, things change, but it's always had a very tight family ethos of the seaside holiday, encouraging families to come. Mehdi Rheljari, Beach Barefoot Hospitality's acting director, is a French/Moroccan entrepreneur turned hotelier, and gives his place of residence as the United Arab Emirates A general views of Hope Cove, where the Cottage Hotel overlooks the stunning harbour The Cottage Hotel has been a prominent landmark run by the same family for more than 50 years Will Murray, 66, a company director, has lived in the village since 1983 'The big concern of everyone is whether it will remain affordable for everyone.'Part of the charm is it is a quiet refuge people go to.'Another local resident said the new owners had 'failed to read the room'. They said: 'The new owner has never more incorrectly read the room here.'It doesn't matter if you throw £30billion at it - Hope Cove doesn't want a large, extended "luxury waterfront resort".'It is totally out of keeping with this quaint unspoilt fishing village - it's the family-run "retro charm" that regular visitors flock to - purposely avoiding the luxury resorts in nearby Salcombe. Vernon Moss, 72, has been staying at the hotel with his family every year since the 1950s.He said: 'It's the traditional values of it. It's a little family beach, and it's been lovely over the years.'My biggest concern is that they will change this environment because this is a family holiday place.'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.'Zofia Wisniewska, a shop owner who has lived there for 19 years, said: 'People here don't like changes; they like to keep the old coastal path the way it is, and they want to protect it.'They don't like big developments here like in Salcombe and that's fair enough because if we lose the beauty I don't think people would like it.' Locals in the town have declared war on fighting off 'rich outsiders' over fears it could turn into a replica of nearby Salcombe Residents fear the move could turn the three-acre site, with panoramic views of Bigbury Bay and direct beach access, into a new playground for the 'rich and famous'She added: 'People like the village, small and enclosed. We've got lots of visitors in the summer anyway. I think they don't want the place to become too expensive as well because not everyone can afford very expensive holidays.'Harbour master Sean Hassell, 60, has lived in the village since 1973. He said: '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.'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.'We understand that they live in Dubai, their money has come from the oil business.'I tend to think they bought it maybe as a bit of a vanity project, which could be a good thing.'We're hoping that they've got the money to spend, and these are good refits. But bear in mind that 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 added: 'People are very concerned it's going to get very upmarket and be very expensive.'It would have been devastating if someone had bought it and turned it into flats. That would have just been terrible for the village but I don't believe that is the business model.'Will Murray, 66, a company director, has lived in the village since 1983.He said: 'There are two worlds in Hope Cove. Some see it as a quaint English theme park to an extent, and nobody wants any change to anything, because they prefer it how it was in the 19th century.'But that's unrealistic, and you can see the thread coming out from Salcombe, and you can see change.'But people only want their bit of change, they don't want any of the other change, they don't want their bit to grow and develop.'There's a huge concern, clearly, because an international scale star hotel there would totally change the whole thing.'I think my worst case scenario would be flats. Because this place has had that done to it already hugely and it kills it.'The purchase also includes a staff house and two luxury apartments.Beach Barefoot Hospitality's acting director Mr Rheljari also owns an exclusive destination management company called Costa Rican Trails. Independent hotel broker Simon Stevens, of Simon Stevens Associates, and Jon Clyne, director of commercial property agency Charles Darrow, worked closely on the deal as joint agents for the Ireland family that was selling it.Simon Stevens said: 'This outstanding hotel has a rich history and an impressive, long-standing reputation, making it highly attractive to the purchaser.'The hotel industry has enjoyed a buoyant summer season, encouraging investment into the sector with credible buyers seeking new opportunities.'Mr Clyne added: 'This is an extraordinary property, nestled in one of South Devon coast's most breath-taking locations, with uninterrupted sea and coastal views.'Beach Barefoot Hospitality has very clear plans to capitalise on this superb setting for the luxury market, and we look forward to seeing that investment progress.'We always welcome approaches from other owners to market and complete similar off-market deals on a confidential basis.'A statement from Beach Barefoot Hospitality said: 'We are excited to have purchased this well-known hotel on such a glorious coastal vantage point.'We will now reposition the hotel as a waterfront luxury venue delivering exceptional service to guests seeking a unique, resort-style environment.'The deal was due to a second-generation retirement sale by the Ireland family, who have owned and operated The Cottage Hotel since 1973 through their family business.William Ireland, a director of J.K. & J. Ireland (Cottage Hotel) Limited, said: 'We are proud of The Cottage Hotel's remarkable reputation, cultivated over five decades of our continuous ownership.'We have made substantial investments in the property to ensure its future success and it now has huge potential for a future owner to add value. We wish Beach Barefoot Hospitality every success.'