Premier Hit for Leicester Square

150 150 Daniel Fountain
  • 0

Leicester Square is famous as the home of film and theatre and today sees a new addition to the Square, with the opening of a Premier Inn at number 1 Leicester Place. Premier Inn’s brand new 83 bedroom hotel was officially opened on the 16th May by Whitbread Chairman Anthony Habgood, Whitbread Managing Director Patrick Dempsey, and Minister of Tourism and Heritage, John Penrose MP. The new hotel, which sees a £12 million investment into the London economy, is one of 20 hotels that will have opened by the end of 2013 across the city as part of a major expansion drive for the hotel chain.

Premier Inn Leicester Square has not only provided significant investment into the local economy but has also created 32 job opportunities for London residents ranging from reception to managerial roles, 50% of those employed have come from long term unemployed 18-24 year olds.

Patrick Dempsey, Managing Director of Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, comments: “We are delighted to be opening a new Premier Inn in the heart of London, a short walk from many of the capitals most well known tourist attractions. Our exciting growth in London means that we can offer even more people a great night’s sleep in the best locations when visiting the capital and we look forward to opening more hotels in London over the coming year.”

John Penrose, Minister for Tourism and Heritage, comments: “Tourism is vital to the UK’s economy and growth and it will play a big role in our future success. It is great to have been here today to officially open the new hotel in this brilliant location and to hear Premier Inn’s plans for further expansion. The eyes of the world will be on London this summer and I can only commend Premier Inn’s contribution to making England the place to stay for both international and domestic travellers.”

The new hotel is also a leader in innovation with ‘floating’ bedrooms equipped with double soundproofing to ensure guests get a good night’s sleep despite being within walking distance of many popular theatres, shops and London tourist attractions.

Daniel Fountain / 19.05.2012

Editor, Hotel Designs

Share

  • 0

Fun fact: I’m usually the person friends rely on to organise trips, schedules, and group plans.

Workhighlights: Successfully coordinating events from planning through to delivery and seeing everything come together on the day.

Fun fact: I’m a keen cyclist and will happily bore people with copious amounts of cycling chat. My top cycling experience (so far) would have to be riding in the spectacular mountains of Crete.

Work highlights: Charles joined Forum Events in 2022. With a background in publishing, editorial media and events, Charles brings a wealth of experience to his role as Senior Production Manager. Having being involved with SPACE from the outset, he is excited to see the brand grow and develop.

Fun fact: People tell Sienna she gives off Bridget Jones vibes, and she loves to bake, always making sure there are shortbreads floating around the office

Work highlights: Sienna joined Forum Events & Media Group while studying Communications and Media, starting in the sales team where she managed and helped launch the first the PA Life Leading Venues of London SHOWCASE, where she built relationships with luxury venues across the capital. Drawn to the stories behind these spaces, she naturally transitioned into the editorial team, creating social media and editorial content. Upon graduating in June 2026, she is excited to be joining as Assistant Editor for Hotel Designs and SPACE.

Fun fact: When not working, Jess can usually be found tending to her kitchen garden in the Sussex countryside or foraging for herbs in the nearby woods. A keen grower, she recently studied a RHS Level 2 Diploma in the Principles of Horticulture during her spare time.

Work highlights: Jess joined SPACE magazine in 2022 and has since progressed from Assistant Editor to Editor. During this time, she has worked across many aspects of the publication – from shaping editorial strategy and overseeing operations to contributing to art direction and representing the brand on stage at industry events including Surface Design Show and WOW!house.

Alongside her role at SPACE, Jess has built a creative career spanning the arts, culture, design and travel sectors. Prior to joining the magazine, she spent more than a decade in the commercial art industry, in artist liaison, gallery management, and curating collections for the hospitality sector across hotels and cruise ships. During this time, she also worked on freelance projects as a writer, photographer, and creative content producer.
 
Jess studied photojournalism at London College of Communication and the Danish School of Media and Journalism and holds a first-class BA (Hons) in Culture, Criticism and Curation from Central Saint Martins.

Fun fact: Katy has spent years perfecting all kinds of accents and loves a good impersonation!

Work highlights: Katy has been with Hotel Designs since the beginning, way back in 2015 when Forum Events & Media Group acquired the brand.

During this time, she has fostered many meaningful relationships with clients from across the hospitality spectrum, as well as playing a pivotal role in the launch of The Brit List Awards, Hotel Designs MEET UPs, client-led roundtables and panel talks, brand and website redesigns, HD Wellness Sets, DESIGN POD podcast, Hotel Designs LIVE panel talk series, Accessible Design Talks and more. Katy is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to help grow the Hotel Designs brand even further.
 
Most recently Katy has stepped in to the role of Publisher at SPACE magazine, the printed bi-monthly publication focused on hotel design, architecture, and development.

Together these platforms offer a comprehensive 360-degree service encompassing digital media, print publishing, and live events – providing unparalleled value to advertisers, partners, and readers alike.