Two new hotels for riverside
HOSPITALITY GROUP SIGNS UP TO £260M
WORK will soon start on the two hotels at the £260m NewcastleGateshead Quays regeneration scheme after global hotel brand Accor signed up to the project.
The riverside area is set to be transformed through the multimillion-pound project, anchored by a huge 12,500-capacity arena to replace the Utilita Newcastle Arena, and hoped to bring around 2,000 new jobs to the North East.
As well as the arena, there will be a smaller conference hall, meeting and events spaces, plus two hotels with 290 bedrooms, bars, restaurants, and other public spaces.
Hospitality group Accor has announced it is bringing its Novotel and Ibis brands to the scheme in a dual branded hotel.
The firm has sealed an agreement with Gateshead Council, its development partners Ask Real Estate and independent investment manager Patrizia for the hotels, which are designed by AHR Architects.
Developer Sir Robert McAlpine is appointed to deliver the scheme, including the 172,000sqft hotels, with construction expected to start in Spring for an anticipated opening in 2024. Vine Hotels will then manage
DEVELOPMENT SCHEME
the hotels on behalf of the council.
The 187-room Novotel will feature the brand’s newest public space and bedroom design concept, due to be launched later this year, as well as meeting rooms and conference facilities, a gym and restaurant with views over Newcastle and the Tyne.
The 140-room Ibis hotel will feature a public space and lounge, and as a dual branded hotel, the 14-storey Accor property will cater to a range of customers including those on a budget and corporate, leisure and family guests.
Philip Lassman, VP development at Accor Northern Europe, said: “This is an excellent opportunity for
Accor to be part of an area which has such strong character and identity.
“Gateshead Quays has undergone a huge transformation in the last 15 years and is now considered a thriving cultural destination with over one million visitors a year, making it an exciting regeneration scheme to be part of.
“Our dual branded hotel is a fantastic prospect for Gateshead and Newcastle. It will be the first Ibis branded hotel in the area and this will be just our second new-look Novotel concept hotel in the UK.
“The new development will not only be a feat in terms of creating a cohesion to the whole quayside location but it will also bring a significant
amount of new investment to the area including job creation.
“We are working closely with Ask:Patrizia and Gateshead Council to deliver a high quality development which will bring significant economic benefit, providing domestic and international visitors with a superb city centre location. By bringing both the Novotel and Ibis brands to the city we are catering for anyone visiting the area, no matter what their budget.”
The hotel will be built next to the 12,500 capacity international arena, conference and exhibition centre, which was approved by Gateshead Council last year and which will be operated by ASM Global.
Sheena Ramsey, chief executive at Gateshead Council said: “This is another major milestone met for the Quays project.
“We’re pleased to have secured Accor’s Novotel and Ibis brands for the complex bringing a completely new offer to NewcastleGateshead, this will be the first dual brand hotel in the region with a physical link between the hotels and the conference centre for major events.”
Daniel Williams, head of development for Patrizia UK and Ireland, said: “Our purpose at Patrizia is to build communities and sustainable futures. We are confident that with the arrival of this new dual branded hotel Gateshead will receive a real boost in terms of visitor numbers.
“Now that we have planning permission, we are very much focused on making a swift start on site.”