A midweek mini-break at Royal William Yard
A hotel at Royal William Yard in Plymouth’s always been part of our dream - and this week it finally became a reality as the beautiful Bistrot Pierre Rooms opened at the scheme.
It was around 12 years ago that I first visited the former Naval supplies yard; filled with the most amazing Listed buildings, there was so much potential but most of the hope had fallen away as failed schemes and a reluctance to tackle the scale of the site had driven other ideas away.
In true Urban Splash style, we had the grit and determination to make something of the scheme, with a vision to turn it into a waterfront community in which people can live, work and play.
By 2007 we’d started doing just that, creating the scheme’s first apartments. Fast forward to 2010 and we’d signed up our first commercial occupiers, the Seco Lounge restaurant and bar bringing the first food and drink offering to the Yard. Many followed, Prezzo, Wagamama, Le Vignoble, and suddenly what was once a deserted basin, became a bustling waterfront marina.
More people came, as did more events, cultural attractions and occupiers - including, in 2013, a French bistro known as Bistrot Pierre. The entrepreneurial team behind that venture approached us last year about turning the Yard’s Residence I building into a hotel concept and the rest, as they say, is history!
So how was my first night? It was pretty special to say the least; my beautifully designed room was created by our good friend and Yard architect Jackie Gillespie. Jackie, as she has with all of the buildings at the scheme, took the best of the building’s Grade I Listed features and fabric, and created a contemporary room.
You can stay at the Bistrot Pierre Rooms now; book by visiting bistrotpierre.co.uk
