Weymouth sees TV star hotel purchase as runners flood seafront
weymouth was the focus of two headline stories this weekend: TV actor Quentin Jones has purchased No. 98 Boutique Hotel on the seafront, and on Sunday more than 1, 500 runners took part in a sold-out half marathon along the seafront and Rodwell Trail.
Weymouth hotel sale
Quentin Jones, known for playing physics lecturer Roger Kiddle in Phil Redmond’s soap, is the new owner of No. 98 Boutique Hotel at 98 The Esplanade after the leasehold was sold for £549, 950. Mr Jones and his partner Claudine Phelps took ownership of the small, stylish seafront bed-and-breakfast, a refurbished Georgian townhouse directly opposite the Jubilee Clock. The property comprises nine en-suite rooms and, to the rear, a large garage that already has planning permission to develop the roof space into a holiday flat.
Sue Coughlan of Lawrence Wright, the specialist hotel agent who arranged the sale, said: “This is the third time I have sold this business in the past 25 years and I am pleased to have shown such a high quality business to Quentin as I know that through his Hollywood contacts new guests to Weymouth will come and enjoy all that the resort has to offer. ” Coughlan also highlighted a local uplift in confidence after a run of guest houses and catering businesses went under offer since the new year, noting that an upcoming increase in business rates will not affect small businesses because of their exemption from all business rates.
Half marathon and ‘half-half’ draw thousands to weymouth
The running event, in its 11th year, attracted more than 1, 500 participants and was sold out in advance. The main race covered the standard 13. 1-mile course while a concurrent “half-half” of roughly seven miles (11km) ran alongside it. Runners followed a coastal route that took them along the seafront, the Rodwell Trail and past the marina, creating a strong local atmosphere with clubs, groups and volunteers supporting the event.
Race director Alan Rose of Just Racing UK said: “The event sold out months ago, which shows how popular it has become with runners from across the country. What really makes the event special is the level of community involvement. Local clubs, groups, charities and volunteers all play a part in helping deliver the race and creating a great atmosphere for the runners. “
Road closures were in place around the event, including Custom House Quay between 04: 00 and 09: 00 ET on Sunday to accommodate the course and safety measures for participants and spectators.
What comes next for weymouth
Immediate next steps for the newly acquired hotel include the potential to develop the permitted roof-space holiday flat above the garage, a planning permission explicitly noted in the sale details. For the running community, organisers will be assessing logistics and community involvement after a sold-out event in its 11th year, building on the momentum Alan Rose described.
Both the hotel purchase and the packed race underline renewed commercial and community confidence in weymouth, with the new owner’s profile and the event’s sell-out status likely to shape visitor patterns and local plans in the coming months.
