France's budget B&B Hotels eyes 100 UK sites

French budget hotel chain B&B Hotels has revealed plans to open 100 UK properties by 2035 as part of its ongoing expansion.

The group opened its first UK hotel at Heathrow Terminal 5 in February and has since taken over five further sites in Birmingham, Ipswich, Inverness, Warrington and Derby.

Over the coming months, the five properties will receive light refurbishments and remain open and operated by current staff.

B&B Hotels was founded in Brest, France, in 1990 and has since grown to nearly 800 hotels across 17 countries in Europe, Brazil and the United States.

Its UK hotels offer basic double and twin rooms, which start from around £73 a night at the Heathrow site, as well as a breakfast buffet.

The group said it is actively seeking partnerships with existing hotel owners, developers and landowners to accelerate growth and reach 100 UK hotels by 2035.

Fabrice Collet, president and chief executive officer at B&B Hotels, said: “This latest takeover of five hotels follows our first hotel at Heathrow Terminal 5 and is an important step in our UK expansion plans – and our global ambition to have 3,000 hotels within 10 years.

“Our successful growth model and commitment to value for our guests have made us a beloved brand across Europe, and we’re excited to bring that same experience to guests in the UK.”

Patrick O’Connell, chief executive of B&B Hotels UK, added: “Today’s announcement represents an exciting step for our UK presence – with B&B Hotels becoming part of the community in Birmingham, Ipswich, Inverness, Warrington and Derby.

"We look forward to welcoming guests to our hotels in these locations as we continue to drive forward our expansion into other towns, cities, tourism and leisure hotspots across the United Kingdom.”

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