South East’s first ‘motel’ is up forsale

December 1997

The South East’s first ‘motel’, currently under construction in Rosslare Harbour, has been placed on the property market, with an asking price of £975,000.

While mainly an American concept that is familiar to us through cinema and T.V. – such as the infamous ‘Bates Motel’ – the Euro Lodge motel concept is already well known in the UK, but this is the first time that one is being built in this part of the country.

It has 38 bedrooms and stands on a site of just under one acre on the main Rosslare to Wexford road, on the left hand side as one leaves the port.

It is effectively a B&B complex together with an adjoining café/restaurant which is open to the public.

The concept is based on providing medium-cost comfortable bedroom accommodation which can be run much easier than a function hotel. Travellers can have breakfast, lunch or an evening meal in the restaurant which will be directly fronting the main road, or they can stay overnight in one of the en-suite bedrooms with the option of having a meal or breakfast.

Rooms in these establishments are generally let on a ‘room only’ basis (i.e. no breakfast included in the standard price), much like the concept which has been introduced by Jury’s with their Jury’s Inns.

Construction work is nearing completion and the building will be ready to trade for the 1998 season – subject to a buyer and operator being found.

Sole selling agents for the property are Kehoe & Associates, Commercial Quay, Wexford.