Premier Inn, owned by Whitbread PLC, is bringing two new hotels to Stratford upon Avon, UK, investing £13.4 million in the town and creating approximately 75 new jobs. The hotels – on Payton Street and at the Waterways on Birmingham Road – will provide more than 200 new bedrooms.
Work has already started on turning College House in Payton Street into an 87-bedroom Premier Inn. The hotel is scheduled to open in spring 2011 and will provide approximately 30 new jobs.
The former Red Lion pub opposite, also owned by Whitbread, will be improved to become the principal pub and restaurant for the hotel.
At the Waterways, work is scheduled to start in the summer. Initially, the existing buildings on site will be demolished and cleared before the construction team moves in to build a new 130-bedroom Premier Inn.
The hotel is being developed by ABD Developments (a company owned by David Austin, The Bird Group, and Deeleys). The scheme will deliver a big boost to the overall regeneration of Stratford’s canalside area the ongoing improvement of the town centre. It is scheduled to open in summer 2011.
Whitbread Hotels & Restaurants, head of acquisitions, John Bates said: “We’re bringing investment, jobs and 200 plus new bedrooms to Stratford. That’s a major package of improvements and we want to be part of a successful Stratford regeneration and business story. Stratford has always had a strong reputation as an attractive town and leisure destination. By introducing 200 plus quality new rooms with great facilities and at a great price, we’re bringing more choice as well as more capacity to the market. That has to be good news for the town and for visitors wanting to come here.”
Expansion into Stratford is part of a strategy to grow to 55,000 rooms in the UK within four years, targeting towns where Premier Inn can achieve great locations and offer a great choice to the customer.
The new Premier Inn at Waterways is an example of Whitbread working closely with development partners to achieve high quality schemes.
The telecommunications masts currently on the site will be removed and relocated to the back of the site and parking for 90 cars will also be provided.
