Hotel du Vin's Hutson eyes Cambridge site for eighth opening

Hotelier Robin Hutson is "a few weeks away" from exchanging contracts on a Cambridge site for his Hotel du Vin chain.

Hutson plans to convert the Trumpington Street site, presently in use by Cambridge University, into a 30-bedroom hotel, although he will not get vacant possession until the end of 2004.

"That will make it number eight," he said. The chain currently has six properties and aims to open in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, in September 2004.

Hotel du Vin has been trying to get into Cambridge for a number of years but until now has had difficulty finding a suitable site. "We really felt we needed to be in Cambridge," explained Hutson. "It has very good leisure possibilities, good business traffic and it's a very good weekend destination. We feel it's right for us, and I feel there's a niche for us there."

Hutson remained tight-lipped about plans beyond Cambridge, although he admitted he was continuing to look at properties up and down the country.

"Having made the decision to go up north with Harrogate, I'm looking to open more properties up there. Chester would be high on the list," he added.

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 20 - 26 November 2003