New £20m hotel to open in Bristol
A new £20-million hotel next to Cabot Circus shopping centre is set to open in the next month.
Future Inns is planning to open its new 150-bedroom hotel by the beginning of May and bookings are already being taken.
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New £20m hotel to open in Cabot Circus Bristol
The Canadian-based chain says its Cabot Circus hotel is a statement of its commitment to expand in the South West, despite the recession.
The hotel will have 150 bedrooms, which Future Inns promises will offer more space and bigger beds than many rivals.
Conference and function facilities will also be able to cater for over 300 people in a range of small or large rooms. The hotel said it has already created employment for nearly 200 local tradesmen and contractors since coming on site in October 2007.
It is currently recruiting the 70 staff it needs to take on before it opens, with positions still to be filled from catering and waiting staff to management.
Future Inns managing director Del Brett said: "We've had a high level of interest in the recruitment drive for its new Cabot Circus hotel and a number of staff have already been appointed."
The hotel is one of the latest additions in a spate of openings across the city.
The four-star Radisson Blu hotel on Broad Quay, formerly the Bristol and West Building, will have 176 rooms when it opens on June 3.
The Bristol and West HQ, formerly known as "the ugliest building in Bristol" has been transformed with a series of glass panels giving it the appearance of disappearing into the sky.
The hotel was originally meant to open last summer but this date was set back to October 2008. It was postponed twice more but will finally open in June. It will create 45 new jobs on opening.
Jury's hotel on Harbourside completed an £8-million refurbishment in January, with rooms now boasting espresso machines and plasma TVs. In a survey by Bristol property consultant King Sturge in 2008, it estimated Bristol needs another 1,000 hotel rooms to cope with demand, backed up by shoppers and business people visiting the Cabot Circus shopping centre.
It said: "There has been a significant growth in hotel development in this region but we have identified an outstanding requirement for more hotel bedrooms in most of the South West's main centres.
"In Bristol, for example, there has been a surge in new hotel development. But the city still has an unsatisfied demand for an extra 1,000 bedrooms."
7 Comments
by Damian, St Philips
Monday, March 30 2009, 10:36AM
“Can't help thinking the demand for hotel rooms would have been much higher if the arena had ever been built...”
by Simon, Totterdown
Sunday, March 29 2009, 5:58PM
“I think things have changed since 2008. I don't think there is the demand for anymore luxury hotels. A friend of mine was one of a number of people made redundant from Jury's. They were managers who had worked there ages rather than waiters, so it must be quite bad at the moment. As more and more people are made redundant, spend less and shops close, why do we need another luxury hotel. That said the Raddison building is much better to look at than the ugly, grey Jury's! Giles, get muck spreading.... we all still need to eat!!”
by Farmer Giles, Top of Dundry Hill
Saturday, March 28 2009, 6:03PM
“To Tom below. Yes we can do basic sums, BUT Hotels NEVER have 100 percent occupancy, more like 30 percent, so it's gonna take 15 years to pay it all back, if they are lucky. Can't stop to talk sorry, off to do some muck-spreading now. Farmer Giles.”
by Tom, Bristol
Saturday, March 28 2009, 5:37PM
“I'm guessing none of you can do basic sums then?
20 million divided by 150 rooms divided by £75 a night divided by 365 days in a year equals less than five years to pay off the original outlay.
Yes, of course there are overheads. I'm aware that there will be interest on investment loans and wages to pay as well as general maintenance costs. However, if this place has the right business model then in ten years this place will be running on pure profit.
As for demand, try booking somewhere central when one of Bristol's numerous weekend festivals is on and you'll understand how these hotels are a good thing.”
by Gomem, East Bristol
Saturday, March 28 2009, 2:11PM
“Does Bristol not have enough hotels already?
This Canadian hotel chain appears to charge on average £75 a night per person. Even at full occupancy(which I very much doubt is going to happen), it's going to take them a very long time to get that £20million investment back.
I also wonder just how successful that very expensive 4* luxury Raddison hotel is going to be in the old Bristol & West office building?”
by Farmer Giles, Top of Dundry Hill
Saturday, March 28 2009, 10:23AM
“20 Million pounds you say. That's going to need an awful lot of passengers paying £1,000 per night to pay all that back. Now where's me shovel?”
by Chris, Bristol
Saturday, March 28 2009, 9:39AM
“How is this alleged "demand" for an extra 1,000 bedrooms measured?”