Concerns 300 years of Sevenoaks history could be 'erased' if new flats isn't named after former hotel

Councillors in want the name of a hotel converted into six flats to be reinstated, saying otherwise 300 years of the town's history would be erased. The Royal Oak Hotel in the High Street in is a "prominent and historic feature of ", named Royal Oak as far back as 1775, said Sevenoaks Town Council. It said the Royal Oak Hotel was an important "landmark and reminder of the town's heritage".

Councillors were "surprised and deeply disappointed" on learning the flats would be called Flats 1-6, Hanover House, thus "erasing over 300 years of the town’s history". According to Sevenoaks History Hub, the hotel was a "grand and important building" in the heart of the town and was once known as The Black Bull. Built in the 18th century as a coaching inn, Queen Victoria once stayed there during her , opposite.



During the 1980s, one person who worked there said it was "always busy, with the bar and restaurant always popular". Strangely, the hotel's website is still live, and it says it had 41 rooms, and was just 250m from the Church of Saint Nicholas. As , there were concerns about the site, which stood empty and boarded up, its brick and plasterwork tatty.

The Grade II-listed building was sold in 2015 for £2.65million, and was for sale again in 2023. The council has fired off a letter to Sevenoaks District Council, the local planning authority, to urge reconsideration of the new name and for Royal Oak to be "reinstated".

In a statement, the council said: "Councillors remain unsatisfied with the justification provided by the District Council as to why the name has been lost – the summary of which is that the adjacent location of properties which are similarly named “Royal Oak Mews” and “Royal Oak House, 5 High Street” could cause confusion and delays to deliveries and emergency services. "Given the origins of the moniker having derived from the Royal Oak Hotel however, with the adjacent properties having been named in deference to its historic significance, the Town Councillors remain determined to contest the loss and pursue its reinstatement." The town council listed the reasons given by Sevenoaks District Council for why "Royal Oak" was not suitable.

KentLive has contacted the district council and developer Mopdev Ltd for comment. to receive your daily dose of KentLive content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.

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