Industry News
Longleat opens for corporate events
Longleat Safari and Adventure Park, the Wiltshire home of Lord Bath, is opening its doors to the corporate events market for the first time. It will be hosting conferences, meetings and banquets in the main house and team-building activities in the 900 acres of gardens and grounds. ... Full story
‘Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story’ visitor attraction opening York 31 March 2012.
‘Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story’ is a new visitor attraction opening in York 31st March 2012. Chocolate – York’s Sweet Story will be available for private and corporate hire in the evenings only, after it closes to the general public. The attraction will suit small parties, workshop sessions with a hands-on focus, tasting evenings and intimate corporate gatherings. ... Full story
Maldron Hotel Cardiff joins Best Western
Maldron Hotel in Cardiff is the latest hotel to join the Best Western Collection. The Maldron Hotel has joined Best Western’s ‘Plus’ selection. The Maldron Hotel is a new hotel which opened last May in the centre of Cardiff. The twelve storey building features 216 air conditioned bedrooms as well as the Stir Bar and Restaurant. ... Full story
New owners plan to transform Abbey Hotel
Former owners of the award-winning Cotswold House Hotel and the Noel Arms in Chipping Campden have bought the 60-bedroom Abbey Hotel in Bath. They plan to transform the three-star Best Western hotel into a mid-market boutique property. ... Full story
Staycity to open at Newhall Square in Birmingham
Staycity, Dublin-based aparthotel operators, are planning to open a 190-apartment complex in the Newhall Square development in the centre of Birmingham. A planning application is scheduled for April this year with construction commencing in autumn 2012 and completion by late 2013. ... Full story
Hotel at Astbury Hall
A multi-million pound plan has been unveiled to build a hotel and leisure complex in the grounds of the 320-acre Astbury Hall estate in Shropshire. The estate is owned by KK Downing, a founding member and guitarist with the group Judas Priest. Plans include the development of a 63-bedroom hotel with an indoor swimming pool, spa and restaurant ... Full story
Holiday Inn Express Crewe now open
The newly refurbished Holiday Inn Express Crewe has just reopened with 64 bedrooms. The number of rooms will increase to 70 later this year. Each room and bathroom is contemporarily styled and includes free wi-fi. All rates include the Express Start breakfast. There are meeting facilities for up to 60 delegates. ... Full story
New Motel One planned in Manchester
Place North West is reporting plans for a new Motel One in Manchester. Motel One, a German-based hotel operator, is planning a 330 bedroom hotel on the corner of Whitworth Street and London Road, opposite Piccadilly Station in central Manchester. A detailed planning application is expected at the end of February. Construction is then expected to start in September with a 15-month build. ... Full story
New Doubletree by Hilton at Edgbaston Mill in Birmingham
Construction work has started at Edgbaston Mill opposite Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham. The new Doubletree by Hilton Birmingham Edgbaston will include 200 bedrooms, a fine dining restaurant, an Indian speciality restaurant plus a third restaurant. It will feature conference and banqueting facilities and a café. Leisure facilities will include an indoor swimming pool, spa and gym. ... Full story
De Vere Colmore Gate opening April 2012
Colmore Gate in Birmingham is the newest addition to the De Vere Venues collection and will be the group's first non-residential venue outside of London when it opens on 2nd April 2012. It is located in the heart of Birmingham on Colmore Row. ... Full story
Radisson Edwardian Hotels purchase Odeon Leicester Square
Radisson Edwardian Hotels have purchased the Odeon West End on Leicester Square in London with plans to redevelop it into a mixed use: hotel, cinema, residential and restaurant complex. Details of the new project are sparse but the hotel is expected to have around 245 bedrooms. Radisson Edwardian will be making a significant announcement about the project in the coming weeks. ... Full story
Ruthin Castle invests in upgrade
Ruthin Castle Hotel in North Wales is planning a £1.5million new spa and wellness centre. The new development is intended to help the 60-bedroom Ruthin Castle to achieve its ambition - four-star status. The hotel was partially upgraded to 4-star standard in 2005-6 after being purchased by its current owners. ... Full story
Bramall Music Building opening November 2012 at Birmingham University
The Bramall Building is a brand new auditorium currently being built at the University of Birmingham. The 450-seat auditorium, which will house the University’s Department of Music, will complete the redbrick semi-circle of buildings which have been at the heart of the University since 1909. ... Full story
Friends House London to unveil £4.5million refurbishment plan
Friends House in London will be showcasing its £4.5million refurbishment project at the Confex Exhibition in London this spring. The refurbishment work which started last September is due for completion in 2014. Friends House in central London - with a quiet courtyard at its heart - is the headquarters of the Quaker Movement in Britain. A twentieth century listed building; it includes offices, an historic library and the Quaker Centre with its bookshop, cafe and restaurant. ... Full story
Hesperia London Victoria hotel rebrands as a Doubletree by Hilton from 14th February 2012.
Crimson Hotels the new owners of the Hesperia London Victoria hotel will be rebranding the property. It will become a Doubletree by Hilton property with effect from 14th February 2012. ... Full story
Shine Business Centre Leeds
Shine Business Centre in Leeds is not a new venue but they have started a campaign to get their facilities more widely known to the corporate market and they are offering highly competitive day delegate rates. ... Full story
New Malmaison hotel in Dundee
A new Malmaison hotel, the 13th in the group, is set to open in Dundee. The new Dundee Malmaison is being developed on the site of the old Tay Hotel, a listed city centre landmark building. The project is part of the £1bn Dundee Central Waterfront Regeneration. The Grade B-listed Tay Hotel in Dundee has lain empty since 1997. ... Full story
Hotel Indigo Newcastle & Marco Pierre White Restaurant opens July 2012
Hotel Indigo Newcastle & Marco Pierre White Restaurant is opening July 2012. The hotel will have 148 individually styled and air-conditioned bedrooms with oversized beds and spacious bathrooms. They will also feature the vibrant colour scheme which is now the Indigo trademark. ... Full story
VisitScotland’s 'creative' venues
VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit has published a list of venues for ‘creative events’ in Scotland. It is a comprehensive list which includes museums, galleries, castles and houses, academic and innovative venues. ... Full story
Dart Marina Hotel to open new restaurant spring 2012
The Dart Marina Hotel in Dartmouth in Devon has just completed the redesign and refurbishment of seven bedrooms with seven more currently in the hands of the interiors team. The Dart Marina Hotel is also set to relaunch its River Restaurant this spring. ... Full story
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Langtree Park Stadium opens January 2012.
The new stadium currently under construction for St Helens Rugby League Club in Lancashire will be named the Langtree Park Stadium when it opens in January 2012. Langtree Park Stadium is located at the heart of the North West, between Liverpool and Manchester, a few minutes from the M6, M62 and M57 motorways. ... Full story