Premier Inn to launch seven new hotels in the North West
Premier Inn - the UK's largest hotel group - plans to open seven new properties in the North West of England.
The expansion is part of the budget hotel chain's wider intention to grow its portfolio by 45%, increasing it from the 650 hotels and 52,000 bedrooms it has today to 72,000 bedrooms by 2018.
The seven new sites, subject to planning permission, are:
Aberystwyth: the former Bay hotel on the seafront will be renovated into a new 62-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant.
Barrow: 80-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and 150-cover Brewers Fayre restaurant will be built next to the Dock Museum (pictured).
Blackburn: 60-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant located in the Cathedral Quarter.
Leek: 60-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant on Ashbourne Road.
Hanley: 100-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and 190-cover Brewers Fayre restaurant on Etruria Road.
Wigan: 83-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant, which has Business Premises Renovation Allowance (BPRA) funding.
Wrexham: 83-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant on Regent Street.
John Bates, head of acquisitions UK and Ireland for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, the operator of Premier Inn, said the brand was expanding in response to customer demand.
"We are continually on the look-out for top quality sites to add to our existing network and we're investing in projects right across the North West. These new locations are great examples of the flexibility and adaptability Premier Inn can bring to secure the right site. With our Whitbread covenant and our ability to attract guests into an area, Premier Inn is the perfect partner for regeneration projects and to boost local economies - as shown by the BPRA support for our development in Wigan.
