Hotel & Venue News

Plans for a new 150-bedroom hotel in Manchester have just been submitted for approval.

The site is a corner plot on the new Circle Square development on Oxford Road in the centre of Manchester. It is currently a temporary car park but once housed the BBC offices in Manchester before MediaCityUK was invented.

Planning approval has already been granted for a new car park on the site. The 150-bedroom hotel would be constructed on top of the car park together with a combined heat and power centre on the ground floor to provide energy for the wider scheme.

A hotel operator is yet to be confirmed, but is expected to be a “leading national brand”.

The first phase of the Circle Square development will include 716 student apartments due to complete in 2017. The second phase will commence next year and will include shops, cafés, bars and restaurants plus workspace and green spaces.

Details: Published: 20 September 2016; Hits: 418

StayWell Hospitality Group, the Australian-based hotel operator, is aiming to expand its Park Regis and Leisure Inn brands in the UK.

The first Park Regis opened in the UK earlier this year with 253 bedrooms at the Five Ways intersection in Birmingham (picture).

The 125-bedroom Park Regis Shoreditch in London is currently under development.

The group is aiming to add four more hotels in the UK over the next four years.

The StayWell aim is to reach 100 hotels worldwide over the next three years.

Details: http://www.staywellgroup.com/about-us/

Details: Published: 19 September 2016; Hits: 478

The Macdonald Burlington Hotel in the centre of Birmingham is planning a major revamp.

The Macdonald Burlington Hotel, which will be forever known by the locals as ‘The Midland’ its former name, overlooks the new-look Birmingham New Street station and the

Grand Central development. It is also well served by the new city metro system.
Perhaps more importantly from a business point of view is the fact it will be next door to the new Apple Computer shop which will be opening in Birmingham’s New Street.

Bedrooms at Macdonald Burlington Hotel are set to undergo a makeover blending the hotel’s period features with a ‘modern twist’.

Plans are also on the drawing board to refurbish the first floor restaurant and bar as well as the hotel’s public areas.

The Macdonald Burlington Hotel has seen many famous faces cross its threshold over the years including Laurel and Hardy, George Harrison and Eric Clapton. It was also where Enoch Powell delivered his famous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech back in 1968.

Interestingly, the Macdonald Burlington Hotel also serves ‘Birmingham spring water’. It comes from its own source – a borehole deep beneath the hotel building where the underground tunnels used to distribute the mail across the city, still exist.

Details: http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/commercial-property/historic-birmingham-hotel-set-revamp-11861184

Details: Published: 16 September 2016; Hits: 506

The Palace Hotel in Manchester is going to be renamed: Principal Manchester. This follows its official reopening this month following a revamp.

Owned by Starwood Capital, the Oxford Road landmark hotel in Manchester will change name following a refurbishment overhaul thought to have cost in excess of £25million.

The rebranding is expected to take place in November when the Starwood Capital Group officially launch: Principal - a new urban lifestyle hotel group.

Principal Manchester is one of a collection of city centre hotels operated by Starwood Capital. The 271 bedroom hotel was formerly headquarters of The Refuge Assurance Company. Its 66 metre high tower is a dominant feature on the Manchester cityscape. The neon lettering on its clock tower will also be changed to the new brand.

Principal, as the group’s new ‘urban lifestyle’ hotel brand will sit alongside De Vere, its sister brand of ‘country house style’ hotels.

Principal Hotels group is expected to number around 12 properties by 2018. Joining Principal Manchester in its November launch will be the 240-bedroom Principal Edinburgh George Street (formerly the George Hotel) and the 155-bedroom Principal York (formerly The Royal York).

Other hotels currently undergoing renovation and which will rebrand next year include the Hotel Russell in London and the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow.

Details: Published: 19 September 2016; Hits: 422

Work on etc.venues’ new event space at the County Hall in London is progressing with the venue on target to open in January 2017.

Located opposite the Palace of Westminster, etc.venues County Hall covers 43,000 sq-ft of meeting space over a single floor with views of the River Thames.

etc.venues County Hall will include 20 meeting and events rooms. The largest conference room has a capacity of 400 delegates and when combined with the Thames Suite will accommodate 900 people for seated dinners, conferences, networking and exhibitions.

There are currently fourteen etc.venues in the group, thirteen of which are in Central London. The exception is etc.venues Birmingham.

etc.venues County Hall will be number 15.

Details: https://www.etcvenues.co.uk/news/2016/05/03/new-venue-news