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Latest news weekending 14th April 2023.
Welcome back after the Easter break.
The Parr’s Bank is a new boutique hotel due to open in Warrington in May. The Parrs Bank building first opened in 1877 as the original home of Parr’s Banking Co. It is now a Grade-II listed. building with its original features retained and refurbished and is about to reopen as The Parr’s Bank, a 15 bedroom boutique hotel with a restaurant, bar, coffee lounge and events space. It is located in Winwick Street in the centre of Warrington.
Located in the heart of the Staffordshire countryside, Weston Hall is a Grade II-listed manor house dating from the sixteenth century and surrounded by 20 acres of countryside. The Hall retains many of its original Elizabethan features including open stone fireplaces and oak beams. Weston Hall has eight bedrooms and six well equipped meeting and events suites the largest seating up to 200 delegates theatre style. Weston Hall is located five miles from the M6 at junction 14.
The Mercure Paignton Hotel is a new four-star hotel which has just opened on the Devon resort’s seafront. Mercure Paignton Hotel has 161 bedrooms, a restaurant plus a two-tier Mediterranean-style terrace with an outside bar. There are two meeting rooms with the largest seating up to 36 delegates. The Mercure Paignton Hotel has its own car park and is around one mile from Paignton Station.
The newly refurbished Aysgarth Falls Hotel & Palmers Restaurant has just reopened near Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales. It follows a three-month-long extensive renovation. The new look hotel has a restaurant and bar plus a private dining room for up to fourteen guests as well as eleven bedrooms with flatscreen TVs and complimentary wi-fi. The hotel has good access to York, Leeds and Newcastle.
There are strong rumours that the boutique hotel chain, The Pig, is about to open shortly a further property in Tunbridge Wells. The site of the new hotel building is currently closed for a total refurbishment but when it does open it will include similar features to those in the group’s other eight sites across the New Forest, Southampton, Bath, Studland in Dorset, Combe in Devon, Canterbury, Padstow and the South Downs. We will keep checking for opening dates and more details.
Plans to build a new hotel in central Portsmouth’s former postal sorting office have been approved. The building, a prominent landmark tower, is set to become a 200 bedroom hotel alongside a 19-storey flats development. No further details currently but we will keep watch.
The Midland Hotel in Bradford has just been sold to Britannia Hotels bringing their group portfolio to 64 hotels across the UK.
Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire has just opened its newly refurbished bar and reception following a £750,000 investment. The new Morgan’s bar and walnut-crafted reception area have both.
Finally – not happening. Plans to build a 98 bedroom, 4-star hotel and spa on a brown-field site at Forest Hill Golf Club on the edge of the National Forest in Leicestershire have been turned down.
We are taking a short break for ten days and then we will be back with the latest update of hotel and venue developments.
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Latest news weekending 7th April 2023.
Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens in Hampshire has just opened its new Orangery Suites - four large suites spread across two floors. They are part of a rolling refurbishment programme at the hotel.
The Bracken Hide is a new ‘wilderness hotel’ opening on the Isle of Skye on 7th April. With 27 en-suite cabins plus a restaurant, whisky bar, lounge plus screening and games rooms. The hotel is designed to bridge the gap between a traditional luxury hotel and wilderness-style accommodation.
The Kings Head, an historic Shepherd Neame former coaching inn in Wye, near Ashford, Kent which dates from the late 1700s has just reopened as a 7 bedroom boutique hotel, with a restaurant and bar.
Heathcote & Co have just taken over as the new catering partner at the AJ Bell Stadium, the Rugby League stadium situated alongside the Trafford Centre in Manchester. It boasts a range of meeting and events facilities with the largest space seating up to 1150 delegates theatre style.
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee is celebrating its 20th birthday with a year-long partnership with the world's longest running comic icon and fellow Dundee creation, The Beano. They have created a Beano inspired room where you'll find added extras and themed textiles for a ‘truly mischievous adventure’.
Room2 Southampton has won £10k from Drax Electric Vehicles to install electric vehicle chargers at the hotel. As well as the supply and installation of the charging station, the prize also includes three years of free-of-charge software, service and maintenance.
The Mount Hotel in Wolverhampton has just acquired Perton Park Golf Club adding corporate team building and golf days to its events package. Perton Park Golf Club includes an 18-hole golf course plus a gym and outdoor adventure activities, such as the Dinosaur Golf Course. The Mount Hotel and Perton Park Golf Club are located a couple of miles from each other.
Plans for the future include:
Plans have been submitted to Leeds City Council to convert a Grade II-listed listed former railway engineering building into an events venue for conferences, live music and local meetings. The building is the Old Engine Works on Jack Lane in Hunslet. It dates from the mid-1800s. We will monitor progress.
Ruby Hotels have just submitted a planning application to open a new hotel in Edinburgh’s Princes Street. If all goes to plan Ruby Edinburgh will open in 2026 with around 300 bedrooms over seven storeys plus a 24/7 bar and a rooftop terrace with views of both Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Old Town. The hotel will be around a ten-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station.
Birmingham City Council is set to consider plans submitted by the Irish Centre to build a hotel alongside its existing clubhouse in the city. The Irish Centre is planning a three-storey extension with 59 bedrooms plus the creation of a boxing gym. Sally has her boxing gloves at the ready in anticipation.
Looking to raise its profile this week is:
This week’s venue looking to raise its profile is the home of the oldest professional football club in Britain. Meadow Lane is home of Notts County FC. It is also the home to a range of conference and events facilities for up to 500 guests with both large and intimate conference spaces plus rooms with a pitch view - all fully equipped with the latest technology. On-site parking and a full catering package are also part of the offering. Meadow Lane is close to the centre of Nottingham and even closer to the River Trent.
We wiah you have a happy and peaceful Easter break.
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Latest news weekending 24th March 2023
Some of the news items you may have missed this week include:
YOTEL is planning to launch an aparthotel concept – YOTELPAD, with the first opening, YOTELPAD London Stratford, expected to open late 2023. YOTELPAD will include a multi-functional live, work and sleep area plus a bathroom and a fully equipped kitchenette. YOTELPAD London Stratford, when it opens, will be the third London property in the YOTEL group and the seventh in the UK.
Lydiard House & Park, plus conference centre, is set to reopen this April following completion of a £2.6million makeover of its bedrooms and events spaces. Lydiard House has 31 bedrooms plus eight meeting and events suites over two floors with the largest room seating up to 100 delegates theatre style. Lydiard House and Park is located in Swindon, a short drive from the M4J16.
PPHE Hotel Group, the international hospitality real estate group, is planning to launch a new €250 million European Hospitality Real Estate Fund which will enable the group to make strategic acquisitions of hotels across Europe. The group currently operate the Radisson, Park Plaza and Art’otels in the UK.
Plans have been approved for the demolition of a low-rise building in Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh which lies close to Haymarket Station and its replacement with a new nine storey hotel with 200+ bedrooms plus a ten-storey office block alongside. Both properties will share an internal winter garden space and extensive landscaped roof terraces. Construction is expected to start in 2024. Details of its operators await publication.
Kew Green Hotels Group has partnered with PoGo to install new electric car charging hubs at the 40 hotels it owns and operates in the UK- mainly Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, voco and Courtyard by Marriott hotels. Work will start this summer with completion anticipated by the end of the year.
The Kings Arms Hotel, part of the Lake District Hotels group, has reopened following a £5000,000 refurbishment programme. The 17th century coaching inn, located in Keswick town centre, has 13 bedrooms plus a restaurant and bar.
Fairtree and Blantyre have just acquired the seven Scottish-based hotels previously operated by Crerar Hotel Group. These include Balmoral Arms in Royal Deeside, the Oban Bay Hotel in Oban and the Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa in Argyll.
Looking to raise its profile this week is: Hawkstone Hall & Gardens. located near Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Hawkstone Hall & Gardens offers a venue with six meeting rooms with the largest seating up to 200 delegates. These include space for team building, corporate events, lectures, celebratory dinners - plus 12 suites and 24 Classic bedrooms.
The Clermont Hotel Group, who operate 17 hotels in London, have just opened The Academy, a dedicated learning and development centre for new and current employees. The Academy is based in the group’s Tower Hotel in London.
City news:
Manchester is set to introduce a tax on people visiting the city for overnight stays from this April. 74 hotels and short-stay serviced apartments in the city will charging an extra £1.00 per room per night. The tax is being levied to help develop and promote tourism in Manchester.
Finally, it’s a long way off but we wait in anticipation to see if the City of Birmingham in partnership with Aston Villa Football Club is successful in its bid to host football’s UEFA EUROs in 2028. Birmingham is currently one of seven cities on the longlist of English cities. Villa Park’s redevelopment plans will ensure that the stadium meets the essential aspects of the UEFA bid requirements.
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Latest news weekending 7th April 2023.
Tylney Hall Hotel & Gardens in Hampshire has just opened its new Orangery Suites - four large suites spread across two floors. They are part of a rolling refurbishment programme at the hotel.
The Bracken Hide is a new ‘wilderness hotel’ opening on the Isle of Skye on 7th April. With 27 en-suite cabins plus a restaurant, whisky bar, lounge plus screening and games rooms. The hotel is designed to bridge the gap between a traditional luxury hotel and wilderness-style accommodation.
The Kings Head, an historic Shepherd Neame former coaching inn in Wye, near Ashford, Kent which dates from the late 1700s has just reopened as a 7 bedroom boutique hotel, with a restaurant and bar.
Heathcote & Co have just taken over as the new catering partner at the AJ Bell Stadium, the Rugby League stadium situated alongside the Trafford Centre in Manchester. It boasts a range of meeting and events facilities with the largest space seating up to 1150 delegates theatre style.
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee is celebrating its 20th birthday with a year-long partnership with the world's longest running comic icon and fellow Dundee creation, The Beano. They have created a Beano inspired room where you'll find added extras and themed textiles for a ‘truly mischievous adventure’.
Room2 Southampton has won £10k from Drax Electric Vehicles to install electric vehicle chargers at the hotel. As well as the supply and installation of the charging station, the prize also includes three years of free-of-charge software, service and maintenance.
The Mount Hotel in Wolverhampton has just acquired Perton Park Golf Club adding corporate team building and golf days to its events package. Perton Park Golf Club includes an 18-hole golf course plus a gym and outdoor adventure activities, such as the Dinosaur Golf Course. The Mount Hotel and Perton Park Golf Club are located a couple of miles from each other.
Plans for the future include:
Plans have been submitted to Leeds City Council to convert a Grade II-listed listed former railway engineering building into an events venue for conferences, live music and local meetings. The building is the Old Engine Works on Jack Lane in Hunslet. It dates from the mid-1800s. We will monitor progress.
Ruby Hotels have just submitted a planning application to open a new hotel in Edinburgh’s Princes Street. If all goes to plan Ruby Edinburgh will open in 2026 with around 300 bedrooms over seven storeys plus a 24/7 bar and a rooftop terrace with views of both Edinburgh Castle and Edinburgh Old Town. The hotel will be around a ten-minute walk from Edinburgh Waverley station.
Birmingham City Council is set to consider plans submitted by the Irish Centre to build a hotel alongside its existing clubhouse in the city. The Irish Centre is planning a three-storey extension with 59 bedrooms plus the creation of a boxing gym. Sally has her boxing gloves at the ready in anticipation.
Looking to raise its profile this week is:
This week’s venue looking to raise its profile is the home of the oldest professional football club in Britain. Meadow Lane is home of Notts County FC. It is also the home to a range of conference and events facilities for up to 500 guests with both large and intimate conference spaces plus rooms with a pitch view - all fully equipped with the latest technology. On-site parking and a full catering package are also part of the offering. Meadow Lane is close to the centre of Nottingham and even closer to the River Trent.
We wiah you have a happy and peaceful Easter break.
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Latest news weekending 31st March 2023.
New venues opened include:
An old city pub, Hort’s, on Broad Street in the centre of Bristol has just reopened as Hort’s Townhouse following an eight-month-long refurbishment. The 18th century, Grade II-listed building now features 19 individually designed bedrooms located on the previously unused upper floors of the pub.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh officially opened last Friday (24th March) in Victoria Street. The hotel houses 222 Chambers and Grand Chamber suites with the Commons Club restaurant and Eve the all-day dining space plus the Greyfriars Hall housing a range of conference and events facilities.
Latest refurbishments include:
The Europa Hotel in Belfast, has completed a £10 million renovation programme of its guest bedrooms including 100 Superior bedrooms, 80 Classic bedrooms and five Suites.
On the other hand, London Hilton on Park Lane has just begun a multi-million-pound refurbishment programme - the first major refurbishment since the hotel opened in the 1960’s. It will include all bedrooms, a new lobby and a renovated ground floor restaurant. It is all due for completion by September.
New hotels and venues planned include:
Canadian-based Sandman Hotel Group is set to open its fourth UK hotel this spring – in Glasgow. Sandman Signature Glasgow Hotel will take over the Pegasus House building on West George Street in the city. It will have 179 bedrooms across ten floors plus a restaurant and bar, meeting and events facilities and a gym.
Marriott is to open a new hotel in Manchester city centre this May. Residence Inn by Marriott Manchester will have 155 bedrooms over 12 floors. The property, formerly The Northern Quarters Service Apartments Manchester, is located in Laystall Street and has undergone a total refurbishment. All rooms will include a kitchen, featuring a microwave, single oven, a two-ring hob, refrigerator and dishwasher.
Sircle Collection, a new boutique/lifestyle group, is planning to open its first hotel in London this autumn. Sircle London will open on Devonshire Square with 81 bedrooms, a restaurant and bar, yoga studio and gym plus an outdoor botanical courtyard. We will monitor its progress.
Plans to create a brand-new state-of-the-art events centre - Marine Lake Events Centre - on the site of the former Southport Theatre in the resort are progressing. A fully flexible cultural space is planned which will host conferences and exhibitions, as well as cultural events and musical theatre. Building contractors have been lined up for this £73million project with final planning approval expected this spring.
Travelodge is currently searching for 300 hotel sites across the UK, as part of an ambitious expansion programme. The group is in contact with 220 local authorities across Britain proposing a joint development partnership.
Plans have been published to convert the Grade II-listed Murdoch Chambers and Pitman Building on Corporation Street in the centre of Birmingham into a four-star hotel. The building started life in the late 1800s as a vegetarian restaurant and hotel. Plans would see the existing Grade II-listed façade restored with a new 11-storey extension at the rear of the building. If all goes to plan work is anticipated to start mid-2023, with completion in 2025.
We finish this week’s roundup with two venues which have caught our attention especially in view of the ‘rumoured’ approach of springtime. They are two rooftop meeting spaces at the Southbank Centre in central London. St Paul’s Roof Pavilion spans the Royal Festival Hall and looks east over the Hayward Gallery as the River Thames flows under Waterloo Bridge towards St Paul's and the Shard. It has a. capacity for up to 150 delegates. Weston Roof Pavilion overlooks the London Eye and Houses of Parliament with capacity for up to 220 delegates. Both are interesting and unusual venues for a meeting, conference or team away-day.
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Latest news weekending 17th March 2023
A selection of this week’s hotel and venue news includes:
Gloucester City Council has struck an agreement with IHG Hotels to launch a Hotel Indigo at the new Forum development in the city centre. Hotel Indigo Gloucester will include 131 bedrooms, a restaurant, conferencing and events facilities plus a rooftop cocktail bar, a gym and a car park. Hotel Indigo Gloucester is due for completion in the summer of 2024.
The Royal Glen Hotel in Sidmouth, Devon is the latest hotel to join the Bespoke Hotels portfolio. The Royal Glen building dates from the 1700’s and was originally a farmhouse and dairy. Now it is a 30 bedroom hotel complete with a restaurant and bar, indoor swimming pool and gym plus a garden, sundeck and verandah – all just a ten minute walk from the beach.
Gino D’Acampo will be opening his 160-seater open-plan restaurant and outdoor terrace at the Leeds Marriott Hotel on 10th April. The hotel. located in Trevelyan Square in the centre of Leeds, is a five minutes' walk from Leeds Station.
The Greenway Hotel and Spa in Cheltenham has just completed a £1.2million refurbishment. The hotel is a 16th century manor house hotel located on the edge of the Cotswolds and ten minutes from the M5. It has 21 bedrooms with a restaurant, spa and four meeting rooms – the largest seating up to 40 delegates theatre style. It is a member of The Eden Hotel Collection.
De Vere Beaumont Estate in Windsor has unveiled the final phase of its £25million refurbishment. Works included updating the hotel’s bedrooms as well as an upgrade of the Beaumont Restaurant and the hotel’s indoor swimming pool. Now all 429 bedrooms feature a new contemporary look. De Vere Beaumont Estate features a Grade-II 19th-century chapel, which now offers a backdrop for meetings and events.
Whittlebury Park in Northamptonshire, is hosting a corporate festival experience on 21st March for event planners to showcase its potential for outdoor business events. Whittlebury Park is set in over 700 acres of ancient forest and parkland, a 10-minute drive from junction 15a of the M1. Facilities include: 254 bedrooms, a conference and training centre, a 3 AA Rosette restaurant plus a 36-hole golf course.
Donnini is an Ayrshire based property company specializing in leisure and corporate lets. The company has just moved into the hotel business with the launch of Donnini Collection Hotels. The Kylestrome is their first hotel with 12 bedrooms plus a restaurant and bar. It is located right in the heart of Ayr, just minutes from the beachfront.
Bike & Boot’s second hotel is set to open May 2023 in the Peak District, 20 minutes from Chatsworth House. With 60 bedrooms the hotel is designed for bikers, hikers and dog walkers with bike storage and dog grooming facilities. Bike & Boot’s first hotel is located in Scarborough.
AGO has just opened its first central London hotel, The Rove London Paddington Hotel. It is located in a newly refurbished property with 75 bedrooms and is a two-minute walk from Paddington station. The hotel has no dining facilities. AGO operate a range of hotels across the country including nine Ibis branded hotels.
We try and finish each week’s round up of news with an unusual venue which may be new to you. This week we highlight: Waterperry House. It is just seven miles from the centre of Oxford and there you will discover a retreat centre for the study of practical philosophy and economics. Located in the village of Waterperry, it features a range of seven meeting rooms in total. These include the Ballroom accommodating up to 80 delegates, The Round Room overlooking the gardens seating up to 30 delegates and the Artists Hall containing contemporary frescos and accommodating up to 30 delegates for a meeting. There is a self catering kitchen plus a garden teashop. Accommodation-wise there is a range single, twin and dormitory style rooms with shared bathrooms.
We will be back next week with a summary of the week’s news items.