Plans approved for first Moxy hotel in Newcastle

Plans to build a Moxy hotel on the site of a former brewery in Newcastle have been given the green light by councillors.

Dutch developer Vastint Hospitality is to construct a 195-room hotel with a café, bar area and cycle parking, reportedly set to cost £18m.

It will open as part of the Newcastle Helix scheme, a 24-acre science and research-led development being built on the former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site.

The base of the hotel will be constructed using a yellow-brick star design in reference to the famous Newcastle Brown Ale logo, with interior artwork reinforcing the story of the area's brewing history.

The proposals were backed by Newcastle City Council's planning committee on 6 July.

"The scheme represents a further key component of Newcastle Helix on a prominent gateway site to the city," said Matt Verlander, planning and development director at Avison Young, which project managed the scheme.

The experiential Moxy brand sees guests check-in at the bar and features grab-and-go snack bars and walk-in showers.

There are currently 62 Moxy hotels across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific, with a further 127 in the pipeline worldwide.

Vastint Hospitality has an agreement with Marriott International to develop new sites under its hotel brands, with upcoming projects including a Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Chester.

Image: Apto Architects