By Nigel Walrond

EXETER Chiefs took another step along the path of developing their home when they cut the turf last month on the building of a multi-million-pound 250-room hotel.

The state-of-the-art hotel is the next stage in the development plans for their Sandy Park complex, which is home to the Gallagher Premiership Rugby club and a major conference and banqueting venue.

The eight-storey hotel situated off Old Rydon Lane will provide leisure facilities on the ground floor, as well as a rooftop cocktail bar and restaurant that boasts picturesque views along the River Exe estuary.

Coming under the worldwide Courtyard by Marriott brand, the four-star facility will also boast an impressive glazed bridge link to Sandy Park, as well as an extensive reception area, open plan bar, coffee bar and lounge.

In addition, the basement of the hotel will also provide spa and fitness facilities, including a sauna, steam room and gymnasium.

The club recently received outline planning permission to turn their stadium into a complete bowl, rather than four separate stands.

This will include a new south stand with a 1,000-seat auditorium, while work on putting seats above the current East stand terracing could take place as early as this summer.

Exeter Rugby Club chairman and chief executive Tony Rowe OBE told the Cornish Times about how significant a step the building of the hotel was to the future of the club.

‘It is fantastic to finally reach this point,’ said Rowe. ‘It was November 2016 when I first approached Exeter City Council with the idea.

‘I am pleased to say they didn’t throw me out of the office, they listened to what we had to say, and they have worked very closely with us over the three years to actually bring it to fruition.

‘The structure should be in place within 12 months, but it will take some time for the 250 rooms to be fitted out, and we are looking to open it in December 2021.’

He added: ‘It is a massive positive for the future of the club. We set up the Sandy Park conference and events facility when we moved here in 2006, but because Sandy Park is out on a bit of limb, the nearest hotel is not a walk away, it’s a taxi ride away.

‘That has hindered our business somewhat over the years, so having this development will be key to our future growth.

‘By doing some research, we identified there was a shortage of three to four-star accommodation within the city, so that is what we have gone for with a Marriott Courtyard hotel.

‘Quite a lot of supporters these days come to Devon for the weekend for the game, and the great thing is, when it is built, they can stay on site and enjoy a good day at the stadium and possibly a good day in Devon.

‘This is going to be the biggest commercial hotel this side of Bristol – and it’s also going to be Marriott’s only hotel in the area, so they are very excited at what can be achieved.’

Rowe was joined by Exeter City Council chief executive Karime Hassan, City Council leader Phil Bialyk, and Paul Thomas, the senior director of International Development at Marriott International, for the official turf-cutting on the new site.

The development of the east side of the ground will take the Chiefs above the 15,000-capacity needed to be automatically allowed to stage home Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals matches, although they have been given special dispensation by EPRC to keep their forthcoming last-eight clash against fellow Premiership side Northampton Saints at Sandy Park on the first weekend of April.

‘We are looking to see if we can put 2,000 more seats on the east side of the stadium to take our capacity over 15,000, so hopefully we can get that under way as well this year,’ explained Rowe.

While things are progressing well off the field, matters on the field could hardly be any better.

Sustained success on the field has seen the Chiefs start to attract some big-name players to come to Sandy Park, with Scotland and Lions full-back Stuart Hogg joining this season, and his international team-mate, lock Jonny Gray, following him down from Glasgow for the start of next season.

‘The players want to come to Exeter, which is really good for us,’ said Rowe.