Travelodge signs up for Neptune development in New Brighton

Aug 26 2009 by Liam Murphy, Wallasey News

A MAJOR hotel chain has signed up to operate the proposed new hotel at one of Wirral’s largest developments.

Travelodge has exchanged contracts on the new 66-bed hotel in New Brighton, marking a key stage in the project to redevelop the seaside town.

Situated at the heart of the New Brighton redevelopment, the hotel will create up to 10 full-time jobs, with all entry level roles being filled through the local Job Centre Plus.

Tony O’Brien, Head of UK Property Development at Travelodge, said: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure this excellent site in New Brighton.

“We expect it be popular with business customers on the Wirral and also people looking for a good day out in the local area.”

Neptune Developments £60m regeneration scheme for New Brighton began with the hugely successful new 800-seater Floral Pavilion Theatre and Conference Centre, which was completed late last year.

Developers Neptune are now awaiting the outcome of a meeting of Wirral’s planning committee which is expected to consider the detailed plans when it meets next week.

If approved, Phase Two could begin on site later this year.

It will comprise of three groups of leisure and retail buildings along with landscaped areas, as well as improved highways and public transport links.

The main mixed-use building will include a six-screen/1,000-seat digital cinema, the new 66-bed Travelodge and a Morrisons supermarket, as well as a number of restaurants and bars.

There will also be a large public area separating this from a crescent-shaped second building fronting the existing Marine Lake. The plans for the western end of the site will see a new public lido and a car park providing 750 spaces to cater for the number of visitors that the development is expected to encourage.

Š There will also be a two-storey sailing school with its own purpose-built pontoon.

This second phase of construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with completion due in 2011.

Rob Mason, Development Director for Neptune Developments, said: “We are delighted to announce the signing- up of Travelodge as the hotel operator for our New Brighton scheme. Travelodge is a fabulous brand and will provide a tremendous addition to the finished scheme, which in its entirety is expected to provide a huge boost to the local economy.

“We are now looking forward to starting on site and completing the scheme.”

The Travelodge deal is a major boost to the development which earlier this year faced the withdrawal of Premier Inns from the £60m redevelopment.

Premier had cited the current economic downturn for their decision.

Travelodge operates 380 hotels (with 26,500 rooms) primarily in the UK, but also in Ireland and Spain.

The company, which employs 5,500 staff and is owned by Dubai International Capital, says it plans to grow to offer 70,000 rooms – approximately 1,000 hotels – by 2020.