The restoration work was being undertaken by construction consultants Thomasons, in partnership with Manchester architects Buttress, Historic England and Exeter City Council.

An alternative plan was announced in December 2021, by the Akkeron Group, to repair and retain the original facade and exterior, and to construct twenty-three luxury apartments with a fully accessible restaurant, bar and two function rooms on the ground floor[6] The proposals were approved in October 2022.

[9] At the time of the transfer, part of the premises leased by John Lee was occupied by an under-tenant, a French school master named Peter Berlon, and Praed engaged him to manage the planned development of the site.

[10] He also developed the adjacent building on the corner of St Martin's Lane for the Exeter Bank, of which he was one of the founding members, with John Duntze, Joseph Sanders and Daniel Hamilton.

[11] It appears that work proceeded quickly on the hotel site because in early September 1766 a newspaper article referred to there having been "an Assembly at Mr Berlon's New Room" accompanied by "some curious Fireworks in the Churchyard".

[12] In September 1770, Berton placed an advertisement for the business, describing it as "New Coffee-house, Inn, and Tavern, Or, The Hotel, In St. Peter's Church-yard, Exeter."

Franz Liszt performed with six other musicians in two concerts at the hotel on 28 and 29 August 1840[17] (a blue plaque on the building, erected by Exeter Civic Society in 2013, commemorated that event[18]).

Other visitors included Beatrix Potter in 1892, Thomas Hardy in 1915, and actors Clark Gable and Gary Cooper during the Second World War.

[20] Between 2000 and 2015, the hotel was co-owned and run by celebrity chef Michael Caines, who set up ABode with business partner Andrew Brownsword.

[34] After assessments were completed and remaining hotspots extinguished,[35] demolition of the building started on 2 November 2016,[36] with continuing efforts to salvage historically important material from the wreckage.

"[39] It was stated that a laser survey of the Royal Clarence made two years before the fire could help architects reconstruct the facade and the hotel.

[40] On 22 February 2017, archaeologists involved in the restoration and rebuilding of The Royal Clarence Hotel unearthed medieval pictures, including one of a peacock.

There was then a second round of bids for the sale, and restoration work to complete the repairs of The Well House Tavern Pub and The Royal Clarence Hotel.

[44] On 18 August 2020, the site was sold to James Brent of South West Lifestyle Brands limited, and the former chairman of Plymouth Argyle Football Club.

[47] On 1 December 2021, proposals were announced by property developer Akkeron Group for a £17 million restoration and reconstruction of the original facade and exterior, with twenty-three luxury apartments, and the ground floor fully accessible to visitors as The Well House Pub, featuring a bar, a large restaurant and two function rooms.

Demolition and reconstruction works will need to be undertaken to the remaining fabric and to buildings around the site, including Six Martin's Lane, which were said to be "unsalvageable" after being exposed to the elements for a number of years.