Urgent Questions Arise Over Riviera Hotel’s Future

When the Grade II-listed Riviera Hotel in Bowleaze Cove was last in the news, its owners said restoration plans were progressing. They reported that security was in place, the ballroom roof had been repaired, and that the building’s Art Deco character would be protected.

However, a site visit carried out on Wednesday, 31 December, raises fresh concerns about the current state of the property and the future of one of Dorset’s best-known coastal landmarks.

Condition Appears to Be Worsening

Despite previous assurances, there is no visible evidence of any ongoing restoration work. The repair to the ballroom roof, reportedly completed in May, appears to have been the last major improvement, with no signs of recent building activity or planning movement towards redevelopment.

During the visit, large sections of the hotel appeared significantly deteriorated:

• Numerous smashed and broken windows across the site
• Internal doors forced or damaged
• Several rooms stripped back to bare studwork
• Signs suggesting removal of piping and electrical fittings
• Widespread damp, mould and signs of water damage
• Reports that some areas are without electricity or running water

In some areas, floors appear to have partially collapsed, while outside, debris, damaged fixtures and standing pools of rainwater contribute to what is now a visibly run-down environment.

Security On Site but Concerns Over Oversight

The site is not entirely abandoned. It is understood that day and night porters remain in attendance, but contact with senior management is reported to be extremely limited.

According to sources on site, regular management communication is minimal, with claims that the only consistent point of contact is an individual believed to be based in Texas, USA. Attempts to reach the hotel’s owners, the Diyafa Group, have so far been unsuccessful. Phone numbers and email addresses linked to the company were inactive at the time of enquiry.

This lack of engagement has raised concerns not only about the condition of the building but also about accountability and long-term plans.

Community Concerns Growing

There is increasing concern locally about anti-social behaviour and unauthorised access to the building. Observations on site suggest signs consistent with both historic and more recent squatting activity, although the extent of any occupation has not been officially confirmed.

With no working sanitation in parts of the building, deteriorating structure and exposed materials, the site may pose safety risks to anyone entering without permission.

Local heritage supporters warn that listed buildings can deteriorate beyond viable repair if action is not taken early enough. Built between 1936 and 1937 and listed in 1997, the Riviera Hotel remains a rare surviving example of large-scale English seaside modernist architecture.

Without intervention, experts fear restoration costs may soon become unmanageable.

What Happens Next?

Attention is now turning towards Dorset Council, with growing calls for an assessment of the building’s condition and consideration of whether enforcement or emergency preservation action may be needed to prevent further decline.

For now, the future of the Riviera Hotel remains unclear. What is clear, however, is that concerns are increasing. With visible deterioration, limited oversight and difficulty establishing contact with the owners, one of Dorset’s most recognisable historic buildings may be slipping further into neglect.

For the moment, the Riviera Hotel still stands above Weymouth Bay — a once-grand landmark now waiting for answers.