Gilbert-Ash and Whitbread celebrate a double topping out in Dublin City Centre Leading construction company Gilbert-Ash celebrated a significant milestone with the topping out of Premier Inn Jervis Street and Premier Inn O’Connell Street, in the centre of Dublin. The topping out ceremonies for both hotels were attended by Gilbert-Ash, its valued client Whitbread PLC, which owns Premier Inn, and key project stakeholders. The new hotels at Jervis Street and O’Connell Street will create 444 of Premier Inn’s latest format guest bedrooms in the heart of Dublin, where the brand is expanding rapidly. The developments also signal a major step forward in Gilbert-Ash’s growth ambitions within its home market of Ireland. Premier Inn Jervis Street is a 215-bedroom hotel reshaping a prominent corner at the intersection of Jervis Street and Abbey Street Upper. The project includes the demolition of the existing building and construction of a seven- storey building plus a basement and roof, with an onsite restaurant and bar on the ground floor overlooking Wolfe Tone Park. Premier Inn O’Connell Street is a 229-bedroom hotel located within the Clerys Quarter redevelopment. The works include construction of an eight-storey building plus a basement and roof, with restaurant and reception to ground floor. Both hotels are due for completion at the end of 2026 and are scheduled to open and welcome guests in early 2027. Gilbert-Ash Managing Director, Ray Hutchinson, said the company was proud to continue its partnership with Whitbread on two landmark hotel projects that will add significant strength to Dublin’s growing hospitality sector. He said: “Reaching the topping out stage is always a rewarding milestone. It’s the moment when we start to see the building emerge from its plans. “Both the Premier Inn Jervis Street and Premier Inn Clerys projects continue to make excellent progress, and collaborating with Whitbread and our wider project partners has been hugely satisfying. “I have no doubt that, when they open, both Premier Inn hotels will become highly sought-after destinations for visitors to Dublin.” Emma O’Shiel, Project and Programme Manager for Whitbread in Ireland, said: “Topping out two prime Dublin City Centre hotel developments on the same day demonstrates the scale of Premier Inn’s ambitions in Ireland. It shows how successful we are at bringing our affordable, consistent product to the best locations – and how fast we are working to grow a top-class network for our customers. “But we don’t work alone, and we need the support of an experienced contractor and development team to build complex hotel developments to our high standards. So, my thanks go out to Gilbert-Ash and the whole consultant team who have worked so hard to create these two-flagship new Premier Inn hotels for us.” Whitbread acquired Twilfit House on Jervis Street in January 2019, successfully securing planning approval from Dublin City Council to redevelop the former museum site into a 215-key hotel. The Clery’s Quarter development site was acquired by the business in August 2022 with planning permission already secured in June 2023. Whitbread currently offers its customers a choice of six hotels in Ireland across Dublin and Cork, offering more than 1,000 bedrooms, with an additional 1,200 rooms secured in its development pipeline. It is targeting a 5,000-bedroom network across Ireland. Gilbert-Ash has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for Gilbert-Ash with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint. Both the Jervis Street and O’Connell Street Premier Inn hotels have been designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’. To find out more about Gilbert-Ash visit www.gilbertash.com. For more on Whitbread PLC visit www.whitbread.co.uk Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Atis is expanding its London estate again, with the fast-growing restaurant brand set to open its 16th site at The Broadway, the 1 million sq ft mixed-use development in St James’s Park. Founded in 2019 by Eleanor Warder and Phil Honer, Atis will take a 3,600 sq ft unit at the scheme, adding to a portfolio that already includes locations in Covent Garden, Notting Hill, Borough Yards, Mayfair and King’s Cross. The latest signing underlines the brand’s continued push into prime central London destinations with strong commuter and office footfall. Atis will join an emerging food and lifestyle line-up at The Broadway, alongside operators including Farmer J, Açaí Berry, Nostos Coffee and Nobleman Barber. The development is seeking to establish a high-quality, wellness-led retail mix that supports the needs of residents, office occupiers and visitors throughout the day. Designed by Squire & Partners, The Broadway comprises 258 homes arranged across six towers, 116,000 sq ft of office accommodation and 24,000 sq ft of street-level retail and dining space. A number of units remain available and are currently being marketed by CBRE. The deal follows the recent appointment of property developer Valouran as asset manager for The Broadway, signalling a renewed focus on curating the scheme’s commercial and retail offering. Alex Michelin, co-founder and chief executive of Valouran, said Atis is one of the capital’s fastest-growing food brands and an ideal fit for the development. He noted that the restaurant will occupy a prominent corner position with frontages onto both Broadway and Victoria Street, helping reinforce the destination’s retail appeal. Phil Honer, co-founder of Atis, said The Broadway’s location aligns strongly with the brand’s approach to simple, real food served in carefully designed spaces. He added that the team is looking forward to becoming part of the area’s continued evolution and introducing Atis to a new audience in St James’s Park. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

With Netflix’s Being Gordon Ramsay now streaming, viewers are given a glimpse inside one of London’s most recognisable towers – 22 Bishopsgate. While the spotlight falls on Ramsay’s new Lucky Cat restaurant, the opening episode also highlights the architectural ambition behind the building itself. Designed by PLP Architecture, 22 Bishopsgate was conceived as a “Vertical Village” – a mixed-use tower that integrates work, hospitality, wellness and culture from the outset. Ramsay describes the 60th floor restaurant space as “an iconic building in the middle of the city”, remarking on its 27,000 sq ft footprint and dramatic scale. Yet Lucky Cat is more than a restaurant with panoramic views; it represents the realisation of a design philosophy embedded into the project from day one. Nearly 13 per cent of the building is dedicated to amenity space, significantly above the London Grade A office average. Restaurants, bars, landscaped terraces and London’s highest free public viewing gallery are distributed throughout the upper levels, opening the tower to the public and redefining the traditional commercial skyscraper model. At level 60, Lucky Cat pairs Asian-inspired dining with an open kitchen concept and sweeping views across the capital. Its position at the summit reinforces the building’s commitment to experience-led design, where hospitality is not an afterthought but a defining feature. More broadly, 22 Bishopsgate reflects a shift in workplace architecture. By embedding destination hospitality within commercial towers, developers can create vibrant ecosystems that promote wellbeing, encourage collaboration and enhance tenant appeal. Lee Polisano, co-founder and partner at PLP Architecture, said the original vision was to create an integrated vertical village in the sky, seamlessly blending work and entertainment. With Lucky Cat now complete, he believes the final piece of that vision has fallen into place, fulfilling the building’s intended purpose as a landmark for modern city living and working. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

GMI Construction Group has started preparatory works ahead of a £30m renovation and restoration of Huddersfield’s landmark George Hotel. The Grade II* listed building, which has stood empty since 2013, is being transformed into a 108-room hotel featuring a bar, restaurant, gym and conference facilities. Located opposite Huddersfield railway station, the prominent site occupies a key position on St George’s Square. Once completed, the revitalised hotel will be operated by Radisson Hotel Group under its Radisson Red brand, marking the first Radisson Red hotel in Yorkshire. GMI has been involved in the project for the past two years, working alongside Kirklees Council, which acquired the property in August 2020. A central challenge has been striking the right balance between safeguarding the building’s historic character and ensuring its long-term commercial viability. Revised proposals secured approval in October 2025 as part of the Huddersfield Blueprint regeneration programme, clearing the way for main construction works to commence. The scheme will retain and restore the hotel’s distinctive stone façade, preserving its historic frontage onto St George’s Square. At the rear, two additional storeys of accommodation will be added in a design intended to complement rather than compete with the original architecture. Ed Weston, GMI’s regional director for Yorkshire, said the company was proud to deliver a landmark project that restores a significant part of Huddersfield’s heritage while contributing to long-term economic growth and community renewal. He noted that the transformation reflects a commitment to careful, high-quality delivery that respects the building’s historic importance. Councillor Graham Turner, Kirklees Council’s cabinet member for finance and regeneration, described the scheme as one of the flagship projects within the Huddersfield Blueprint. He said the George Hotel acts as a gateway building into the town centre and, once refurbished, will help strengthen the local economy while offering visitors a prime place to stay. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Burger King has unveiled its latest acquisition requirements as it accelerates plans to grow its UK estate, targeting 30 new restaurant openings annually. The fast-food operator, which currently trades from around 600 locations nationwide, is seeking units between 1,500 sq ft and 3,000 sq ft. Both freehold and leasehold opportunities are under consideration, reflecting a flexible approach to securing the right sites. The brand is actively targeting space within retail and leisure parks, major shopping centres and prominent high street locations. The expansion drive signals continued confidence in bricks-and-mortar dining, particularly in high-footfall and well-connected destinations. BKUK, Burger King’s largest UK franchisee, is leading the growth strategy across Great Britain. To support the rollout, the operator has appointed a team of property agents to identify suitable opportunities across key regions. Morgan Williams has been instructed to source sites nationally, while Savills and EYCO will focus on opportunities in Scotland. In the South of England, LM has been retained, with Space Property Consultants and Barker Proudlove appointed to secure units in the East Midlands and the North East respectively. The renewed push for expansion highlights the brand’s ambition to strengthen its presence across a diverse mix of urban and out-of-town locations, capitalising on consumer demand for convenience-led dining and drive-to destinations. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Pollini at Ladbroke Hall enters a new chapter defined not by what is on the plate, but by the evolution of its physical space — a considered reworking of interior architecture, materiality and atmosphere within one of West London’s most distinctive heritage buildings. Set inside Ladbroke Hall’s Grade II-listed Beaux Arts structure in Notting Hill, the restaurant forms part of a wider 43,000 sq ft adaptive reuse project that has transformed the former 1903 Clément-Talbot car factory into a multi-layered cultural destination. The building’s grand portico, heraldic crest and vast arched window remain defining architectural features, anchoring the contemporary interventions within a historic framework. Originally conceived by Linda Boronkay, Founder and Creative Director of Boronkay Studio, the restaurant’s latest evolution reflects a careful process of refinement rather than wholesale redesign. Working within architecture shaped by Vincenzo De Cotiis Architects, the updated scheme enhances the dialogue between historic fabric and modern craftsmanship, demonstrating how retrofit-led hospitality design can deliver both intimacy and theatricality within a landmark setting. What began as a raw shell has progressively matured into a layered, textural environment. The recent interior works have focused on deepening warmth and improving spatial flow. Reconfigured banquette seating reshapes the dining layout, creating softer sightlines and more flexible group arrangements. New upholstery and textile treatments introduce richer tactility, absorbing sound and improving acoustic comfort within the high-ceilinged volume. Lighting has been embedded and recalibrated to create zones of intimacy beneath the grand proportions of the hall. Rather than relying solely on statement fixtures, the scheme now incorporates concealed and low-level illumination to enhance depth and shadow, drawing attention to surfaces and materials rather than spectacle alone. Curtaining has been introduced to envelope the dining area, forming a subtle architectural threshold between the restaurant and the adjoining gallery spaces. This intervention strengthens the sense of enclosure without compromising the openness of the original structure — a key consideration in retrofitting heritage buildings for contemporary hospitality use. Greenery and internal planting have also been amplified, softening the architectural lines and introducing a biophilic layer that complements the building’s historic grandeur. The addition of an outdoor bamboo garden patio further extends the spatial experience, offering a seamless transition between interior and exterior environments while maintaining the cohesive design language established indoors. Art and collectible design remain integral to the interior identity. Four large-scale, site-specific works by Sir Christopher Le Brun PPRA continue to anchor the space visually, alongside a sculptural chandelier by Nacho Carbonell and bespoke furniture pieces curated through Carpenters Workshop Gallery. These elements reinforce Ladbroke Hall’s ‘living gallery’ ethos, where art, design and hospitality intersect. Boronkay describes the project as an exercise in creating a retreat within the city — intimate yet expressive, layered with shadow, texture and warmth. The intention has been to craft an environment that feels instinctively welcoming while quietly sophisticated, allowing materials, proportion and craftsmanship to speak first. The refinement of Pollini reflects a broader movement in London’s hospitality sector towards thoughtful retrofitting and adaptive reuse rather than ground-up development. By working sensitively within a historic envelope, the project demonstrates how heritage assets can be reactivated through careful spatial planning, material layering and contemporary detailing. At its core, Pollini remains inseparable from Ladbroke Hall’s wider vision: a place where architecture, art, performance and social gathering coexist. With this latest evolution, the restaurant strengthens its identity not simply as a dining destination, but as a carefully constructed interior environment shaped by restoration, design intelligence and respect for its architectural past. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Willmott Dixon is stretching from Wales to Kent as it mobilises on two landmark leisure developments set to transform community sport and wellbeing facilities on either side of the country. In Swansea, early works are now under way on the new National Institute for Sport & Health (NISH), while in Gravesend preparations are gathering pace for the long-awaited Cascades Leisure Centre. In Wales, the four-storey NISH development for Swansea University is being constructed at the entrance to Swansea Bay Sports Park. The project is funded through the Swansea Bay City Deal, with backing from Swansea Council and local health boards. Work began last month to replace the existing pavilion at Sketty Lane, with full construction scheduled to commence in the coming weeks. Project management is being led by Pick Everard, working alongside architects Powell Dobson. The 2,000 sq m facility is designed to unite public, private and academic sectors engaged in sports and health research and development. NISH aims to support start-ups and growing businesses in advancing product innovation, while also serving as a key anchor for a broader Science and Innovation Park. Keith Lloyd, Director of NISH, said the institute will position Swansea — and Wales — firmly on the global stage for pioneering research, product development and community health innovation. He described it as a catalyst for discovery, inward investment and improved wellbeing. The building is expected to open its doors in 2027. Further east in Gravesend, Kent, Willmott Dixon is working with Gravesham Borough Council to prepare the site for a new £43 million leisure centre. Early site activity is under way, with demolition works scheduled to begin in early spring to clear the existing structures and ready the ground for construction. The new Cascades Leisure Centre will replace the current ageing facility. Plans feature a 25-metre swimming pool, a 17-metre learner pool, an aqua play and flume area, spectator seating, a six-court sports hall, a multi-level soft play zone, dedicated party and community rooms, and a café. Willmott Dixon was appointed as the council’s construction partner in September 2025 for the pre-construction phase via a direct award through the Pagabo framework. Richard Poulter, Managing Director for Willmott Dixon in the South, said it is an exciting stage of the project as visible activity begins on site. He added that the new leisure centre will provide an outstanding, sustainable facility designed with families and the wider community in mind. Over the past decade, Willmott Dixon has delivered more than 160 leisure facilities across the UK, including 108 swimming pools. The new Cascades Leisure Centre is expected to open in 2028, marking a significant investment in the future health and wellbeing of the Gravesend community. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals

Trafford Council has signed off plans for a new purpose-built ice arena and multi-use events venue at TraffordCity, Manchester, marking a major step in expanding the area’s sport and leisure offer. The 3,000-capacity TraffordCity Arena will house state-of-the-art ice skating and ice hockey facilities, together with a flexible events area suitable for entertainment and community activities. Planet Ice will be the anchor tenant, and the scheme is set to become one of the operator’s largest sites in the UK. Set on the former Soccer Dome plot beside The Snow Centre, Trafford Golf Centre, David Lloyd, Fives Soccer, iFLY and The Padel Club, the project is being brought forward by ICITIES in partnership with Peel Waters, which has cleared the land to enable future leisure development. Year-round ice sessions, lessons and training will be complemented by premium hospitality, with future occupiers expected to provide family dining, bars, leisure offers and VIP areas. The design also allows for concerts, screenings and immersive experiences to broaden the programme for visitors. The approval comes amid strong development momentum across TraffordCity. Construction is underway on the £450 million Therme Manchester wellbeing resort, which is expected to add around 1.7 million visits a year once operational. Trafford Waters Care Home, the first residential project within the emerging Trafford Waters neighbourhood, has also completed, anchoring the growing mixed-use community. With planning in place for the arena, Peel Waters is exploring options for adjacent plots on the former Soccer Dome site, including high-end lifestyle hotels and additional leisure and sporting experiences. Peel Waters said its long-term TraffordCity vision has already supported 17,500 jobs, with an ambition to reach 33,000 over the next 20 years. The arena is expected to create construction roles and more than 50 permanent operational positions across hospitality, events and leisure once open. TraffordCity currently attracts about 44 million visits annually, with the new venue forecast to drive further footfall and investment across Trafford and Greater Manchester. Contractors will be confirmed shortly, with construction due to start in summer 2026 and an anticipated build period of 12–15 months. On completion, the arena will form a key part of Peel Waters’ wider ambition to create an inclusive destination for sport, leisure and entertainment at TraffordCity. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals