QHotels to invest £16m in Leeds' Queens hotel

QHotels has announced it will be spending £16m on renovating the Queens hotel in Leeds, with building work already under way.

Although the hotel will be open for business from March, the full refurbishment will be unveiled in the summer and will include a renovation of all bedrooms and the addition of 16 bedrooms, bringing the room count to 232.

The ground floor will be transformed to offer a multitude of communal areas, and there are also plans for a new wine bar with an outdoor terrace, an "extensive" coffee space and a central restaurant offering.

The hotel reception's barrel-vaulted ceiling and original timber floors will also be restored, and the listed red passenger lifts renovated and modernised. Upperworth Studios and Iliard Design are overseeing the project.

Richard Moore, group chief executive of the QHotels Group, which has a 21-strong, nationwide portfolio of hotels, said: "It's a real pleasure to be part of such an exciting project for the group and the city of Leeds. The Queens hotel, Leeds, is a special place, with fond memories for many who have visited or stayed at the hotel. It therefore provides a wonderful contrast of positivity for everyone at such challenging times. We're very fortunate to have supportive shareholders who, despite the current economic conditions, remain passionate and continue to share our vision for the hotel. We are excited about the project ahead of us and can't wait to share the next chapter of our exciting journey".