Priory Bay Hotel is in an absolute stonking location, with one of the best Isle of Wight beaches on its doorsteps - yet it has been empty for seven years now. The beach has a special place in my heart (Ed: get a grip, man). It was our second favourite beach growing up (Compton Bay was first) and we would have been there more often if it had been slightly closer to Carisbrooke. I've been Googling Priory Bay Hotel sporadically and thought I would share the latest update for those who haven't seen it themselves. Here's a potted history of the last decade, including an update from the new owners last year. The Closure of Priory Bay HotelBack in 2016, Priory Bay Hotel went into administration and went up for sale. It had been a pretty posh hotel for a long time and featured in our guide the best posh hotels on the Isle of Wight when we started this website in 2013. According to the Caterer magazine, Priory Bay Hotel had been owned by the founder of the New Covent Garden Soup Company. This has no real relevance but my mother enjoys reading little details like this. Aria Resorts
The photos I took in summer 2020 aren't great, but I'll share them anyway:
A dramatic turn of eventsI may have overdone the headline here, but the next developments were quite dramatic in my mind.
Getting to Priory Bay has always been difficult, unless you are staying in the hotel. It requires a walk from one of the adjacent beaches and is easier at low tide. On the issue of access, the new owners now say that "it has been necessary to install boundary fencing along a section of Bridleway R84, the primary purpose of which is to safeguard the health and safety of the public throughout the construction process. We will also be implementing a signage strategy to warn any members of the public who might stray from the public rights of way on the coastline". The website continues to give further details on the access issues. Anyway, it is great to see something happening at the site! Best of luck to the new owners - let's hope it can re-open soon. Update: 2024We've just added a gallery of photos of Priory Bay Hotel in July 2024. Thanks to Ian, who got in touch and provided this.
60 Comments
Justin Lawson
13/6/2023 02:54:57 pm
Thank you for you most wonderful and intriguing article, I stumbled upon your article by accident.
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Isle of Wight Guru
16/6/2023 09:37:53 am
Thanks Justin, I didn't expect a lot of people to read this post but I have great affection for that beach so wanted to put something together for my own interest if nothing else!
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Justin Lawson
16/6/2023 11:04:21 am
Hi guru,
Isle of Wight Guru
16/6/2023 11:30:42 am
I'm afraid those are the only ones I took. I am hoping to take a few more this summer, depending on how accessible it all is!
Nina
8/8/2024 03:48:10 am
Hi,
Joanne Abrahams
17/6/2023 10:46:32 am
This is a really interesting read, thank you.
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Justin Lawson
17/6/2023 07:55:14 pm
Hi Joanne,
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TERRY GOULD
30/6/2023 08:49:02 pm
Great article!!
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Isle of Wight Guru
1/7/2023 11:21:26 am
Thanks Terry, love the story about the barman!
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Justin Lawson
3/7/2023 04:53:44 pm
Hi Terry,
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My Phung Huynh
12/7/2023 05:41:26 am
Wow, amazing to stumble upon your article. And also so sadden to see photos of the hotel now. In 2016, I had booked one of the yurts right along the beach and had such a special 2 days. Except for meals, we didn’t really go into the main house. The place was of an otherworldly time and memories of it live in my mind still. I hope it find it’s way back.
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London babe
3/8/2023 05:39:32 pm
Hi there! I was looking for any updates about this hotel because we stayed there few times and wanted to return in some point! Sad to see nothing really happened I visited the place last time before Covid but was boarded up with fences … Did they still kept statue of Churchill and Roosevelt sitting on the bench ? 3 copy of one in New Bond Street London and Washington DC ?! Would be amazing if it’s still there !!
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Derek
28/1/2024 09:07:44 pm
I am an Island resident and stayed at the hotel in 2003. I remember the statue my called “Allies”, it is the one of several copies made and i suspect it was sold and removed from its site at The Priory Hotel. We all hope that the Hotel is restored, but it is unlikely in the current economic climate.
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Justin Lawson
5/8/2023 02:38:15 pm
Hi all,
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Susan Hall
19/9/2023 06:37:13 pm
Wonderful memories of The Priory when it was a Christian Guest House. We stayed there for two weeks in 1971 and again in 1972. I was only 7/8 at the time, but could tell you so much! I visited the hotel about 12 years ago and the staff let me look around and reminisce. So sad to see it looking as it is in your photos. Let's hope it's given the TLC it deserves.
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Justin Lawson
20/9/2023 12:36:25 pm
Thank you Susan for your wonderful story
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JUSTIN LAWSON
20/9/2023 01:30:38 pm
Hi Susan,
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JUSTIN LAWSON
20/9/2023 01:33:04 pm
As a big favour, can I ask anyone with any images of the priory hotel 🏨 and its grounds send me them, this is a very special place to me and my images are very limited.
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Isle of Wight Guru
20/9/2023 02:06:28 pm
I did take my drone over the site in August but there was some problem with the signal and I couldn't really get anywhere near it. I will patch together what I have and put it on Youtube, but don't get your hopes up!
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Isle of Wight Guru
20/9/2023 02:30:27 pm
Here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b57C-jk_Z40
Claire
3/11/2023 03:44:38 pm
Hi Justin.
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JUSTIN LAWSON
4/11/2023 03:05:08 am
Hi Claire,
Denise
3/10/2024 09:37:15 pm
If you go to a youtube channel called Vacant Haven you will see the very sorry state the interior of this hotel is in now. The episode was uploaded a month ago titled 'we explored the Isle of Wight's ABANDONED Priory Hotel.
Louise
24/7/2024 08:02:50 am
Hi there .
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JUSTIN LAWSON
27/7/2024 09:43:43 am
Hi Louise,
Justin Lawson
21/9/2023 03:37:53 am
Thank you… stunning shots from a great angle.
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Peter Deacon
28/9/2023 10:42:47 am
About 20 years ago we arranged a weekend company BBQ at the Priory Bay as a 'Trains and boats and planes' trip, a couple of us had light aircraft and flew over, some had small sea going cruisers and some went by car and train, about 30 of us in total. I loved the place, and always remember the bench with Winston Churchill and Teddy Roosevelt life sized statues sitting on the bench in the garden overlooking the beach, are the statues still there?? We had the BBQ in an area overlooking the beach a short walk down a path from the hotel. It was a memorable day and just a brilliant location. We walked along the beach and explored the area, such a shame that the place has been left to deteroriate for so many years. I just hope that it is renovated and keeps as much of the original splendid character and is not modernised and loses its grand past..... such wonderful memories
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JUSTIN LAWSON
29/9/2023 06:29:54 am
Thank you Peter,
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Robin Philip
10/10/2023 02:04:45 pm
We went to the Priory Bay hotel for the first time in about 1953 when it was part of the Workers Travel Association, I was 4 years old. I have vague memories of a Bonfire on the beach and English Country Dancing in a Barn. A small sea wall was being built on the beach and my Father wrote his name in the wet cement. We returned in 2004 to celebrate my mother-in-laws 90th birthday. The place had changed quite bit, particularly with the addition of Churchill and Roosevelt, but we could just make out my father’s name on the sea wall. Such found memories. I do hope it comes back to life.
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Jo Abrahams
21/10/2023 11:32:36 pm
That is such a lovely memory Robin and the fact that you went back and you could still see your Father's name in the cement wall!
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Jo Abrahams
21/10/2023 11:37:08 pm
Sorry Justin,
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JUSTIN LAWSON
24/10/2023 09:21:11 am
Thank you Jo,
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Rob Newby
29/10/2023 07:12:29 pm
What sad news about The Priory. I worked there for two summers, 1982 and 1983 as placements from our hospitality college course from Thomas Danby College in Leeds. There were 10 of us sent down to work there for the summer - we had expected to join other staff but found out that we were it! It was a steep learning curve. At that time the hotel was owned by Ken and Margaret Battle from Bradford - they had a business making Formica tops for twin tubs (that ages me!) The only other people there were a couple called Roy and Daphne. Roy did the grounds and was a general handyman and manager and Daphne was the housekeeper. They lived in a flat in the basement. We had a great two summers and got up to all sorts!
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JUSTIN LAWSON
4/11/2023 02:58:40 am
Hi rob,
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Karen Wheeler
11/11/2023 09:18:10 am
Hi All , this was lovely to read & brought back lots of memories we went every August to stay at the Priory for two weeks made lots of friends & lovely memories I remember Ken & Margaret & especially Roy who did everything around the place it was a fabulous place . I particularly remember nights dancing in the barn ! We returned back in July 2018 & wandered up the beach path into the grounds had a great explore before the lovely man explained we should not be there . I have some photos looked very overgrown & neglected but still has that magic & it hold a special place on my heart . I’d love to be kept updated on any progress & happy to share photos
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JUSTIN LAWSON
13/11/2023 08:04:28 am
Hi Karen,
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David Macdonald
19/11/2023 04:26:36 pm
Great to see your update re. the hotel....we had a great wedding anniversary party there in 2013 and have been regularly trying to find news of the re-development. It's a great location and I hope it eventually emerges having kept at least a bit of its character rather than emerge 'blinged', urbanised and submerged in new extensions or whatever but hat sadly may be a forlorn hope!
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David White
20/11/2023 05:16:59 pm
Will the Priory Bay hotel ever be re-opened for business?
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Justin lawson
23/11/2023 07:46:04 pm
Hi David,
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Matthew
21/12/2023 07:09:50 pm
My family owned the Priory in the 1700s. I have letters relating to Sir Nash Grose. I am aware of the story of the blue lady and the stuffed dog and believe it to be true. When I last visited the dog was in the glass case above the entrance. The house was quite neglected then, I would have loved to have looked around.
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Malcolm woodhouse
8/2/2024 05:05:23 pm
From the age of 12 to 19 I spent two weeks a year the last week in July and the first week in August
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Christine Divall (was Holden)
17/3/2024 05:15:33 pm
My family stayed at the Priory in the 60s and 70s almost every year when it belonged to WTA. Workers travel association. We travelled there from Bolton by car. We loved it there and I have many happy memories which I'm happy to share if anyone is interested. Also I met Steve there in 1966 and in 1969 we were married - and still are - to each other! We are having a short holiday on IOW in May this year. It would have been good to visit the Priory but if doesn't look possible?
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JUSTIN LAWSON
20/3/2024 10:13:34 am
Hi Christine,
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Denise Syndercombe Court
20/4/2024 11:18:24 am
Like many others on this thread I enjoyed many years of holidays at The Priory through the WTA -probably because it had tennis courts which was a passion of my father’s that continued throughout his life. It has always had a strong place in my heart. I worked there in the late ‘60s and we even moved the dog one night in a joke to disturb the residents. (The Blue Lady did not appear.). I stayed there with our young family in the late 90’s and organised an international conference there in the early 2000s. Waiting for its reopening as I would love revisit what are such strong joyous memories.
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JUSTIN LAWSON
23/4/2024 07:17:46 am
Thank you,
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JUSTIN LAWSON
23/4/2024 07:20:25 am
I’m jealous Denise,
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June Oreilly
20/4/2024 09:35:10 pm
I live on the Island and today went along to the Priory Bay Area but did not get into it. Then tonight I found all these comments and it was great. I worked there not long after the Palmers brothers bought it. If my old memory is just about working one of them ran the Hotel and one was a Solicitor in London. James the solicitor ? Both very tall handsome men and I remembered their soup Business. Enjoyable hour or so reading it all and seeing the photos.
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Alan Wood
4/6/2024 05:43:42 pm
We holidayed at the Priory Hotel for many years during the 80s when it was owned by the Battles. Always good holidays, and the dog always loved the way they gave us leftovers from breakfast for her.
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Sarah Bowbrick
12/6/2024 01:48:53 pm
Some of my happiest memories are from the holidays spent here during the 80s.
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JUSTIN LAWSON
17/6/2024 02:08:29 pm
Hi Sarah,
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George Squires
27/6/2024 02:49:22 pm
Hi
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Isle of Wight Guru
10/7/2024 12:49:43 pm
We've recently added some more photos of Priory Bay Hotel to a blog post. Thanks to Ian for sending them through: https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/blog/priory-bay-hotel-update-2024-gallery
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TERRY GOULD
27/7/2024 12:38:27 pm
Keep the updates coming. Always interesting to get to any news.
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Gavin Reynoldson
1/8/2024 11:15:02 am
My family (Reynoldson) stayed at the Priory Bay Hotel every summer in the 80's and 90's when the Battle's used to own it. All our family from around the world would get together for a couple of weeks.
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Lesley Lancaster
2/9/2024 03:48:07 pm
Hi Gavin,
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Dave Perry
15/8/2024 01:00:42 am
If you go to YouTube Vacant Haven YouTubers explored the hotel very recently. It is a shame what has become of this great hotel. Looking at the vlog it is going to take a lot of money to bring it back to anything like it was.
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Justin lawson
21/8/2024 02:06:07 pm
Hi Dave,
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Sue Sturgeon
18/9/2024 09:03:34 pm
I, my husband and two children stayed at the Priory
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Dave Greene
24/10/2024 03:56:44 pm
I work bar at the Priory hotel 2000 -2001. I remember the great sausages from the breakfast buffet the most. And the Pims !!
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KAREN MCLOUGHLIN
15/11/2024 08:02:50 am
My parents managed this hotel in the 70s. We had a staff reunion in 2018 and stayed in a cottage there, that used to be staff cottage. There was a person living and looking after the priory when we was there. He kindly let us in and we had a nostalgic look around. Telling him lots of our stories whilst working there together.
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