Fustration as riverside hotel sits empty 11 years after closure

Concerns have been raised as The Upper Reaches Hotel, off Thames Street, next to Abingdon Bridge, has been boarded up since its 2015 closure.

The building has become a hotspot for vandalism and antisocial behaviour over the years, with numerous incidents reported and, despite efforts to tidy up the site, it is still an eyesore close to one of the main entrance points to the town.

Last summer councillors called for action to bring forward redevelopment plans for the area, but despite a whole year having passed since then, nothing has changed.

The freehold of the site is owned by Vale of White Horse District Council but since 2004 the lease has been held by Contemporary Hotels Ltd.

In 2023, hotel owner Ambar Paul announced proposals to redevelop the site.

He said he was prepared to spend £6m but only if he was granted the freehold. One possibility would be a new 50-room hotel.

Abingdon town councillor Oliver Forder, also chairman of Vale of White Horse District Council (Image: Abingdon Town Council)

Oliver Forder, chairman of the Vale council, who is also a town councillor, said attempts have been made to contact Mr Paul during the past 12 months.

He added: “We are not getting a response from him – it is extraordinarily frustrating.

“He is the person who has the lease and there is no break clause in it – he is not negotiating with us.

“We want to find a solution that is acceptable to the public, the council, the leaseholder.

“Councillors have been active in pressing officers to seek a solution – it’s a constant topic of conversation.”

The Upper Reaches hotel in Abingdon (Image: Ed Nix)

Mr Paul, who is based in London, closed the Upper Reaches because it was losing £100,000 a year.

He is required to pay £60,000 to £80,000 a year to keep the site secure, and maintenance work was carried out in 2024.

Conservationists The Friends of Abingdon Civic Society have repeatedly lobbied the council for progress on the issue, together with local residents.

A contractor at The Upper Reaches hotel in Abingdon (Image: Andy Ffrench)

A spokeswoman for the group said last year: “The Friends are calling on Contemporary Hotels and the Vale of White Horse District Council to bring this situation to a speedy end.

“Contemporary Hotels should either bring forward their long-promised redevelopment plans or give up the lease for development by someone else.”

The group added the presence of such an eyesore at the entrance to the town on the riverside makes Abingdon look “unloved”. 

Committee member Hester Hand said this week: “The Friends of Abingdon and representatives from the Thames Street residents continue to have periodic updates from the district council, but have heard nothing from the leaseholder.

“It seems that late last year the leaseholder showed some interest in reviving his plans, but all has gone quiet again.

“The Vale council is maintaining the position that there is nothing they can do so long as he abides by the terms of his lease. Clearly the future of this site is not a high priority either for them or the leaseholder, which is incredibly frustrating for local residents who care much more about it.”

A spokesperson for Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Over the past year, the council has continued to engage with the tenant of The Upper Reaches site in its capacity as landlord and has sought updates on plans for the future of the hotel.

“We identified a number of maintenance and repair issues that have now been addressed by the tenant. These include repairs to part of the river wall and bridge structure, removal of graffiti, re-boarding of windows and doors, vegetation clearance and the introduction of a regular maintenance regime, as well as repairs to a roof defect and works to address water making its way into neighbouring property. These works have helped improve the condition and management of the site whilst longer-term options continue to be explored. ”

The spokesperson added: “We regularly monitor the condition of the site as part of our responsibilities as freeholder. We are not aware of any current issues that present an immediate risk to public safety. We will continue to monitor the site closely and require the tenant to address any concerns that arise.

“The tenant previously indicated a design team had been appointed to explore redevelopment options, but no formal proposals have yet been brought forward. As landowner, the council has not been made aware of any specific development plans at this time.

“As well as maintaining ongoing dialogue with the tenant on progress and future plans, we also continue to engage with local stakeholders who have an interest in seeing the site brought back into use, including the local interest group.

“We share the community’s frustration and desire to see a long-term and positive future secured for the Upper Reaches site. Ultimately, our hands are tied as the property is subject to a 125-year ground lease and responsibility for the operation and redevelopment of the site rests with the tenant.

“We will continue to engage proactively with the tenant, encourage the submission of redevelopment proposals and ensure that appropriate maintenance and management of the site is carried out in the interim.”