Travelodge has officially opened its first hotel in the great British North West seaside resort, Southport. The grade ll listed property which houses a clock tower has 101 rooms (with 17 rooms built into the clock tower). The hotel represents a £5.7million investment, a creation of 15 new jobs within the community and it has been designed in the new modern Travelodge brand style. The Mayor of Sefton, Councillor Maureen Fearn and the Member of Parliament for Southport, John Pugh both officially declared the hotel open for business at an opening ceremony on the 17th April.
Southport Travelodge is located in the iconic Grade II listed Ribble Building which includes a working clock tower on Lord Street. The building was erected in 1884 and has operated as both a train and bus station during the last century. The building had been derelict for ten years until 2013 when the building was converted into a mixed scheme development which includes a restaurant unit and the Travelodge hotel.
Travelodge has converted the clock tower at the front of the building into 17 rooms to help keep the true character of this impressive building. It has also restored the clock back to working order.
The hotel has been designed in the new modern Travelodge brand style and incorporates the Company’s new room design – which has been designed by its customers. Every room features the luxurious bespoke king size Travelodge Dreamer bed.
Southport Travelodge is being managed by Sarah Hill, who has been working for the company since 2006. Sarah started her Travelodge career as a supervisor at Chester Delamere Travelodge before undergoing the company’s management development programme and has now been given the keys to this brand new hotel in Southport. Sarah’s team of 15 staff members have all been recruited via Travelodge’s partnership with the Job Centre Plus Scheme – which helps the long term unemployed back into work.
The opening of Travelodge’s first hotel in Southport boosts the company’s portfolio to 513 hotels. This hotel opening is one of 15 new hotels that Travelodge is opening this year, as part of a £100 million investment. The other locations include: Manchester Piccadilly, Chertsey, London Walthamstow, Christchurch, Egham, Llandudno, Southampton West Quay, London Raynes Park, London Wembley, London Greenwich High Road, Glasgow Queen Street and Ryde Isle of Wight.
In a bid to further grow its business, strengthen the Company’s brand offering and ensure consumers obtain the best value in the marketplace, Travelodge is currently investing £57 million to modernise its hotels and bring its new room design to all of its hotels. By autumn this year over 80% of Travelodge hotels across the UK will incorporate the new look Travelodge.
