Jurys Inn group sets sights on Liverpool with two properties in the pipeline

Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels has received planning permission for one hotel in Liverpool and signed a lease agreement for another, with both hoped to open in the next two years.

The group has got the green light to transform the city's Gostins Building into a 207-bedroom Nyx-branded property. It also has plans to open a 283-bedroom Leonardo hotel (pictured) as part of Liverpool’s Pall Mall development, with a ground floor bar and lounge, first floor restaurant, meeting rooms and a gym.

Jason Carruthers, managing director of Jurys Inn & Leonardo Hotels UK and Ireland, said: “We’ve had a presence in Liverpool for a number of years. It’s a city that we know well, and it’s a key UK city in terms of its size, economic growth and opportunity.

“Given the size of it and the distinct business districts, we knew that we could accommodate one if not two more additional properties, and it’s given us the opportunity to have all of our brands represented in the city.”

Carruthers confirmed the group is “constantly looking at new opportunities”, particularly to grow its Nyx and Leonardo brands, with its Jurys Inn brand already well-represented across the UK.

Meanwhile, its 197-bedroom Leonardo Bristol Glassfields hotel is due to complete in March 2021, and the refurbishments of the four Grange hotels it took on in partnership with Queensgate Investments as well as its £13m refurbishment of Manchester’s Midland hotel are also coming to an end with the properties due to relaunch next year.

Like with many hotel groups, 400 roles were made redundant at the company earlier this year. However, Carruthers is optimistic for 2021: “I’ve been so encouraged by the amount of particularly domestic leisure business that we have experienced during this year,” he said.

“I was very encouraged to see the high levels of occupancy that we achieved throughout the summer, particularly in August, in locations like Edinburgh, Brighton, Exeter, Plymouth, Galway. You can see that people are desperate to get out and interact and enjoy themselves.”

The group’s main project for next year will be the refurbishment of its 186-bedroom Edinburgh Jurys Inn hotel, with a further 101 bedrooms set to be added through an extension. Work is expected to start in the first quarter of next year and hoped to be finished in time for the Edinburgh Festival, should it take place.