Green light for £10m revamp of Colchester's George hotel

Plans for a £10m refurbishment and expansion of the Grade-II-listed George hotel in Colchester, Essex, have been given the green light.

Harwich-based developer Flying Trade Group, behind the Surya Hotels brand, acquired the 47-bedroom hotel in 2015. As well as refurbishing the hotel and exposing parts of an ancient Roman road in the hotel's cellar for public viewing, the improvements will include the conversion of St Nicholas House, located opposite, into a 44-bedroom extension.

The ground floor of St Nicholas House is currently used by an Entertainer toy shop and Sweatshop, which will both remain, and work is due to start in 2018.

Flying Trade chief executive Suki Dulai said: "We have to ensure that while we bring the hotel back up to date with modern facilities, that we don't lose the historical atmosphere of the building. Our aim is to keep the charm and ambience of the hotel."

The Flying Trade Group is run by brothers Harry and Suki Dulai with an annual turnover of £100m. It encompasses Surya Foods, as well as a portfolio of 11 hotels in the UK, including Great Hallingbury Manor and the Kingscliff hotel, both in Essex, the Dukes Head in Norfolk and the Mill hotel in Suffolk.

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