The former Tides Reach Hotel on South Sands in Salcombe, a family-run 35 bedroom retreat owned by the Edwards family for 47 years, closed around 2012 and has since been transformed into the Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa – a 50‑room luxury mixed‑use development with spa and residential apartments. This article traces the redevelopment saga from Eden Hotel Collection’s original £12 million vision through planning delays to the eventual Harbour Hotels opening, drawing on trade publications, local news, and project case studies.
Last checked: 2026-07-02
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Former Name: Tides Reach Hotel · Location: South Sands, Salcombe, Devon · Current Status: Closed; being redeveloped into Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa · Year of Closure: Around 2012
How we researched this
Last checked: 2026-07-02.
Sources reviewed: trade publication (Restaurant Online, Boutique Hotelier, The Caterer), local newspaper (South Hams Today, Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette), project management case study (We Are Ease, Cap Ceilings & Partitions), review platform (TripAdvisor), travel booking site (dnata Travel), and social media (Facebook).
We did not conduct an on‑site visit, interview staff, or independently verify planning documents.
Snapshot: Tides Reach Hotel Salcombe – Before & After
- The Tides Reach Hotel had 35 bedrooms when it was acquired in 2014 (Restaurant Online)
- The Edwards family owned and ran the hotel for 47 years before selling (Restaurant Online)
- The Harbour Beach Club now occupies the site with 50 bedrooms (We Are Ease)
- The development includes 10 residential apartments above the hotel (Cap Ceilings & Partitions)
| Former Name | Tides Reach Hotel |
| Location | South Sands, Salcombe, Devon |
| Current Status | Closed; redeveloped into Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa |
| Year of Closure | Around 2012 |
| Original bed count | 35 bedrooms |
| New bed count | 50 bedrooms |
| Residential units | 10 apartments |
| Investment (Eden plan) | £12 million – £13.5 million |
| Opening (Harbour Beach Club) | Spring 2021 |
What is the Tides Reach Hotel Salcombe development?
The Tides Reach Hotel was a family‑run seaside hotel set in a tree‑fringed sandy cove at South Sands, Salcombe. Its redevelopment is a multi‑year, multi‑operator project that transformed a 35‑bedroom traditional retreat into a 50‑bedroom luxury hotel and spa with private beach access and residential apartments.
What were the key features of the original Tides Reach Hotel?
Historic marketing material from dnata Travel described the property as a peaceful seaside retreat with “well‑appointed, lovingly decorated rooms”. The hotel was owned and operated by the Edwards family for 47 years, according to Restaurant Online. TripAdvisor reviews highlighted the stunning location and cool decor, though some later comments characterised the property as run down in its final years.
When did the hotel close and why?
The hotel closed around 2012. In 2014, Eden Hotel Collection acquired the site from the Edwards family with plans for a £12 million redevelopment into a 50‑bedroom waterfront spa hotel, complete with a private beach and terrace. The project was projected to open in time for the 2016 season, as reported by Boutique Hotelier, which described the proposal as a £13.5 million seaside spa hotel. However, local planning applications faced repeated derailments. South Hams Today reported that even after planning permission was granted, the plans returned to committee. A later planning submission reduced the room count to 44, indicating design concessions during the process.
The trade-off: The original family hotel closed without a direct successor; the site remained empty for years while competing visions and planning hurdles delayed redevelopment.
What is the Harbour Beach Club redevelopment plan?
Control of the site eventually passed to Harbour Hotels, an independent UK hotel group. The final redevelopment, executed by project management firm We Are Ease, involved a new‑build 50‑bedroom wing plus refurbishment of the existing structure. The scheme created the Upper Deck Bar, Lower Deck Beach Bar, a ground‑floor restaurant, and the HarSPA. Ten residential apartments were built above the hotel. The hotel opened in spring 2021, six years after Harbour Hotels began redevelopment, according to The Caterer. The apartments and spa were handed over by Christmas 2021.
What is the Harbour Beach Club in Salcombe?
The Harbour Beach Club is a hotel and spa located at the former Tides Reach site on South Sands. It is part of the Harbour Hotels portfolio, which also operates properties in Fowey and Christchurch.
What amenities does the Harbour Beach Club offer?
The property includes 50 bedrooms, the HarSPA with a swimming pool, the Upper Deck Bar and Lower Deck Beach Bar, and a restaurant with sea views. Construction contractor Cap Ceilings & Partitions described it as a mixed‑use facility combining hotel, spa, and residential elements. The spa was remodelled from the old Tides Reach spa into a luxury facility, according to We Are Ease.
When was Harbour Beach Club built?
The hotel wing was handed over in July 2021, and the apartments and spa were completed by Christmas 2021, as confirmed by Construction Management.
The pattern: The redevelopment took about six years from the initial Harbour Hotels acquisition, reflecting the complexity of coastal planning in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
What are the Tides Reach Hotel Salcombe reviews?
Historical reviews of the original Tides Reach Hotel paint a mixed picture, while the new Harbour Beach Club has attracted fresh commentary.
What did TripAdvisor reviewers say?
A TripAdvisor review from the pre‑redevelopment era praised the hotel’s “stunning location and cool decor”. However, local social‑media commentary in the Salcombe Noticeboard group described the old hotel as “run down with poor reviews in later years”, and criticised the new development as “far too big”. These are anecdotal signals from a single group thread, not a systematic survey.
How did the Good Hotel Guide describe it?
dnata Travel described the property as a peaceful seaside retreat with “well‑appointed, lovingly decorated rooms”. That description aligns with the hotel’s long‑standing reputation as a quiet, traditional seaside retreat, in contrast to the contemporary luxury positioning of Harbour Beach Club.
The implication: The hotel’s reputation diminished in its final years, but the redevelopment has reset expectations – though local sentiment remains divided on scale and character.
What is the best hotel in Salcombe?
With the opening of Harbour Beach Club, Salcombe now offers several high‑end options. This section compares the redeveloped property with nearby alternatives.
What other top hotels are in Salcombe?
South Sands Hotel sits directly adjacent to Harbour Beach Club. A TripAdvisor review from 2012 contrasted South Sands’ modern décor with the Tides Reach’s more traditional style. Harbour Hotel Salcombe Spa, another Harbour Hotels property, is also a well‑known option in the town. The former Tides Reach site now competes directly with these properties.
How does the new Harbour Beach Club compare?
The redeveloped site is the largest and most amenity‑rich of the three, with its private beach, multiple bars, and full‑service spa. South Sands Hotel offers a more boutique experience with fewer rooms. The choice between them depends on whether a guest values scale and facilities versus intimacy and character.
Pros and Cons of the Tides Reach Redevelopment
Pros
- Increased room count (35 to 50) and upgraded facilities – private beach, spa, multiple dining venues.
- New residential apartments provide an alternative to hotel stays for long‑term visitors.
- Employment and economic boost for Salcombe during and after construction.
Cons
- Delayed by years due to planning disputes; site sat empty for nearly a decade.
- Local criticism that the new building is “far too big” for the South Sands setting.
- Loss of a cherished family‑run hotel with traditional character.
Timeline of the Tides Reach Hotel Redevelopment
- Around 2012: Tides Reach Hotel closes.
- April 2014: Eden Hotel Collection acquires the 35‑bedroom hotel from the Edwards family, announces £12 million redevelopment plans (Restaurant Online).
- 2014: Eden submits plans for a £13.5 million seaside spa hotel to South Hams Council (Boutique Hotelier).
- Mid‑2010s: Plans are “derailed again” despite prior approval (South Hams Today).
- December 2017 (likely): New planning application for a 44‑room hotel with spa (Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette).
- 2020: Harbour Hotels announces Harbour Beach Club will open spring 2021 (The Caterer).
- July 2021: 50‑bed hotel wing handed over (We Are Ease).
- Christmas 2021: Apartments and spa section completed (Construction Management).
Tides Reach Hotel / Harbour Beach Club – Specifications
| Original name | Tides Reach Hotel |
| Current name | Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa |
| Address | South Sands, Salcombe, Devon |
| Original rooms | 35 |
| Current rooms | 50 |
| Residential units | 10 |
| Spa name | HarSPA |
| Bars | Upper Deck Bar, Lower Deck Beach Bar |
| Operator | Harbour Hotels |
Alternatives in Salcombe
For guests considering a stay in Salcombe, the newly opened Harbour Beach Club competes with:
- South Sands Hotel – a smaller boutique hotel right on South Sands, with a more intimate atmosphere.
- Harbour Hotel Salcombe Spa – another Harbour Hotels property in the town centre, also offering a spa and dining.
Our pick for most readers
If you value comprehensive resort facilities – private beach, multiple dining venues, full spa – Harbour Beach Club is the strongest option. For a quieter, more traditional stay, South Sands Hotel remains a solid choice. The redeveloped Tides Reach site now offers the widest range of amenities in Salcombe.
““The new waterfront hotel, complete with spa, private beach and a terrace with sea views, will offer high quality and contemporary dining.””
– Mark Chambers (quoted description of Eden Hotel Collection’s plans), Managing Director, Eden Hotel Collection
““The new Tides Reach is an exciting development and we very much look forward to being part of the Salcombe community.””
– Mark Chambers, Managing Director, Eden Hotel Collection
Frequently asked questions about Tides Reach Hotel Salcombe
Who owned the Tides Reach Hotel?
The Edwards family owned and operated the hotel for 47 years before selling to Eden Hotel Collection in 2014 (Restaurant Online).
What type of hotel was Tides Reach?
It was a family‑run seaside retreat with 35 bedrooms, described by dnata Travel as offering “well‑appointed, lovingly decorated rooms” in a peaceful setting.
Where is Tides Reach Hotel located?
At South Sands, Salcombe, Devon, directly on the beach.
Is Tides Reach Hotel still open?
No, it closed around 2012. The site now operates as Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa, which opened in spring 2021.
What is the HarSPA?
The HarSPA is the luxury spa facility at the Harbour Beach Club, featuring a swimming pool and remodelled from the original Tides Reach spa, according to We Are Ease.
When did the Tides Reach Hotel close?
The hotel closed around 2012, after 47 years of operation by the Edwards family.
Sources
- Restaurant Online – Eden Hotel Collection acquisition and plans (April 2014)
- Boutique Hotelier – £13.5 million spa hotel proposal
- We Are Ease – Harbour Beach Club case study
- The Caterer – Harbour Hotels spring 2021 opening announcement
- South Hams Today – Planning derailments
- Kingsbridge & Salcombe Gazette – 44‑room planning application
- Cap Ceilings & Partitions – Mixed‑use description
- Construction Management – Handover timeline
- dnata Travel – Historic marketing description
- TripAdvisor – Review comparing South Sands and Tides Reach