Designed to be a welcoming, social and stylish space, Travelodge’s 85 Bar Café is a vibrant place where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the brand’s contemporary design including its flagship hotel nestled in the heart of London’s
Morgan Sindall Construction has commenced refurbishment work at Watford Colosseum to preserve, modernise and upgrade the historic live entertainment venue. Built in 1938, Watford Colosseum is a Grade II listed building renowned worldwide for its exceptional acoustics. Described by Julian Lloyd Webber as ‘the finest recording venue in the world’,
The final concrete terracing panel has been installed to complete the structural work within the bowl of Everton Stadium. The final piece of the huge jigsaw was lowered into place in the east stand this week, ending 18-months of complex work since the first concrete terrace was positioned in August
GMI Construction Group has been appointed principal contractor to deliver the North East’s first Dakota Hotel. The luxury 118 room boutique hotel will transform the vacant St Anne’s Wharf at 112 Quayside, which fronts onto the River Tyne, and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2025 The development will generate
Hilton today announced the signing of Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre, signalling the market-leading brand’s debut in Western Europe, as part of a franchise agreement with JMK Group. Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will be located only 100m from the vibrant O’Connell Street, home to the
An exciting, new holiday resort destination just 25 minutes from Glasgow city centre is set to open this summer as 18 luxury lodges, available for rental all year round, get under construction on the picturesque banks of the Clyde. The £2.5m investment project is being undertaken by River View Luxury
Everton is proud to reveal the fourth and final phase of ‘ALL’ seasonal memberships at the club’s iconic new waterfront stadium. Village Street and Trinity Place Bar, located in the West and East Stands respectively, offer supporters the chance to experience a range of vibrant bars and traditional style pubs
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, today announces it has promoted and appointed Kirsty Berry as the Company’s new Head of Estates. Kirsty joined Travelodge in 2022 as Regional Estates Manager and has been an integral member of
Leeds City Council has submitted plans to transform an ageing leisure centre site into a state-of-the-art and wellbeing hub. The council has had long-standing ambitions for Fearnville Leisure Centre in Gipton to be replaced with a facility that is fit for the 21st century. This could soon become a reality,
Designed to be a welcoming, social and stylish space, Travelodge’s 85 Bar Café is a vibrant place where you can enjoy a drink or a bite to eat. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the brand’s contemporary design including its flagship hotel nestled in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel chain, with nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain announces the rollout, to selected hotels, of its new concept; 85 Bar Café. In a multi-million pound investment, and in conjunction with the company’s most significant brand transformation to date, which includes a new style reception area and next-generation rooms; the introduction of 85 Bar Café is in response to consumer research, carried out by Travelodge, to gain further insight into the needs of the modern traveller. 85 Bar Café, a nod to the iconic British hoteliers heritage of when it opened its first hotel in 1985, is an overhaul of the pre-existing Bar Café and offers a welcoming, stylish and comfy space for eating, drinking and unwinding (or a quiet spot for working) whilst also maintaining Travelodge’s quality offering at great value prices. The upgraded Bar Café, with an all day dining service, welcomes both hotel guests and passers-by, offering breakfast, lunch and dinner menus as well as light bites and an extensively stocked bar. The £14 Meal Deal** which consists of two courses of either a main and side or dessert can be enjoyed as well as the mix-and-match offer of three light bites***. For those looking for healthier options, a range of food under 600 kcal is offered alongside plenty of vegan and gluten-free dishes for those with dietary requirements. All of this is at great value, including the Unlimited breakfast* offer, where two kids under the age of fifteen eat for free. Eighteen Bar Cafés have already been upgraded to the new distinct and modern design with the roll out set to continue into additional selected Bar Cafés, as well as several new Travelodge hotels, up and down the country. Upgraded locations to date include hotels in popular London destinations: London Central Covent Garden Travelodge, London Central Euston Travelodge, London Finchley Travelodge, London Finsbury Park Travelodge, London Kings Cross Royal Scot Travelodge and London Waterloo Travelodge. Hotels in key cities include Bath Waterside Travelodge, Birmingham Airport Travelodge, Cambridge Orchard Park Travelodge, Canterbury Chaucer Central Travelodge, Cardiff Queen Street Travelodge, Edinburgh Cameron Toll Travelodge, Guildford Travelodge and Manchester Upper Brook Street Travelodge while Blackpool South Shore Travelodge, Brighton Seafront Travelodge and Poole Travelodge are the first coastal hotels to be upgraded to 85 Bar Café. The stylish decor creates an inviting and vibrant space. With distinct zones embedded into the design for flexibility in dining, socialising and working, a statement bar acts as the focal point to draw in guests, showcasing the great quality barista coffee, alongside the wide selection of craft beers, premium world wines, spirits and sodas as well as a fantastic selection of cocktails including Picante Margarita and Espresso Martinis. The distinctive zones have been designed to suit the needs of business and leisure travellers as well as everyday diners and are identified with floor to ceiling bookcase divisions. The use of botanicals oozes charm and the vibrant neon 85 Bar Café signage adds a retro 1980’s touch. Every 85 Bar Café features a mural, with the numbers 8 and 5 as discoverable elements within. The piece conveys Travelodge’s ethos of bringing people together and putting customers and colleagues at the heart of everything it does. Additionally, SAINT illustrates poster art for the brand, with each piece telling a discoverable music or film reference from 1985 whilst being completely unique to Travelodge. Travelodge’s investment in 85 Bar Café doesn’t stop there, most importantly it also includes its people. Team members are multi-skilled via a four day training programme to give them expert product knowledge and premium customer service skills with the option of undertaking Aspire, Travelodge’s bespoke in-house management training scheme. Karen Broughton, Travelodge Chief Sales and Marketing Officer said: “We’re excited to announce the roll out of our new look Bar Café design, 85 Bar Café as we evolve our quality offering to deliver a better experience for our diverse mix of business and leisure guests. “Our new Bar Café concept offers a modern atmosphere for all-day dining with a diverse menu to appeal to a variety of tastes. This inviting space is available for both guests and passers-by to enjoy a drink or bite to eat or to connect with friends, family or colleagues. All of this is at great value, including our Unlimited breakfast* offer, with the added benefit of children eating for free. “The expansion of 85 Bar Café forms part of a strategic hotel investment programme which will see us upgrade half of our rooms by 2024”. Sustainability runs through everything that the business does, Travelodge has further implemented measures to reduce its impact on the environment which includes steps being taken at all of its 210 Bar Cafés. This includes the use of energy efficient lighting with motion sensor controls, conserving water usage, reducing food waste and recycling anything from plastics, e-waste and leftover food. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall Construction has commenced refurbishment work at Watford Colosseum to preserve, modernise and upgrade the historic live entertainment venue. Built in 1938, Watford Colosseum is a Grade II listed building renowned worldwide for its exceptional acoustics. Described by Julian Lloyd Webber as ‘the finest recording venue in the world’, it is home to the BBC Concert Orchestra, has been used to record multiple famous movie soundtracks and has hosted a long list of musical as well as sporting greats. To ensure Watford Colosseum’s longevity and to position it as a cultural and sustainable quarter that will drive local investment, Watford Borough Council (WBC) appointed Morgan Sindall’s Northern Home Counties business to undertake an extensive refurbishment. The Colosseum project follows Morgan Sindall’s ongoing refurbishment at the adjoining, also Grade II listed, Watford Town Hall. When complete, the combined £20m project will preserve both buildings and make use of reduced civic office space to create areas that nurture a sense of belonging and identity. This will see a new interactive museum added alongside a hub to support young people, entrepreneurs, and start-ups as well as a community space and café. Scheduled for completion in Autumn 2024, Morgan Sindall will create a new stage and lighting rigs to enable a wider range of acts to perform and will reopen the original grand entrance, which has been closed for over a decade. Visitors will benefit from a new café as well as accessibility, lighting, and signage improvements to bring the pre-war site up to a modern standard. The tier one contractor will also install an external ventilation duct, and roof plant, and refurbish the existing canopy to the front of the building. To align the Colosseum with WBC’s sustainability goals, the project will minimise the amount of material sent to landfills and make the venue significantly more energy efficient. This will be achieved by installing modern insulation materials, upgrading the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, and adding photovoltaic (PV) panels to the roof. Once complete, WBC can expect sustainability performance levels far beyond those typical of civic buildings constructed in the 1930s. This includes a 40% saving on gas bills due to new cavity wall insulation and when combined with replacing all lights with LED equivalents and installing new roof insulation, a 166-tonne annual saving in carbon emissions. The refurbishment will also realise U-value improvements, with the rate of energy loss from the walls reduced by a factor of six, and from the flat roofs by a factor of 17. The unique nature of this project will require Morgan Sindall to leverage its Intelligent Solutions approach to meet one-of-a-kind challenges. Maintaining the venue’s renowned acoustics is a top priority and has been factored into every stage of the Colosseum’s planning, design, refurbishment, and operation. Bringing the venue up to a modern benchmark for functionality and sustainability while respecting its historic fabric, such as the timber panelling and Art Deco façade, has likewise seen Morgan Sindall devise innovative solutions and construction processes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The final concrete terracing panel has been installed to complete the structural work within the bowl of Everton Stadium. The final piece of the huge jigsaw was lowered into place in the east stand this week, ending 18-months of complex work since the first concrete terrace was positioned in August 2022. And with all 1,988 double-stepped units now installed, on schedule, all four stands of the stadium are intact. Gareth Jacques, Laing O’Rourke’s Project Director, confirmed: “Structurally, that is the stadium bowl complete. “When you consider that alongside the terracing, the team have also done the structural steel and precast concrete in the four stands, it is a fantastic achievement. “Because we use modern methods of construction and need to fix our design to go to fabrication early, the team worked really hard in the early stages of the project. “The rate of progress we have achieved within the stadium meant that we were nearly 40% ready to go with precast components when we took possession of the site, so it’s been a great piece of work and a great product from our supply chain partner Banagher, in Ireland.” The terrace units, averaging just under 9.5 tonnes in weight, have each been meticulously lifted into place over the past 18 months, secured with a high-strength grout and then made weatherproof with a special sealant. And the installation of the bespoke, double-stepped units – ranging from 0.73m to 14m in length – is a first for Laing O’Rourke, who pivoted from more traditional single-stepped blocks due to a combination of factors. Jacques explained: “The double-stepped units are something we haven’t done before. In previous stadiums we have built, it has been a single-step arrangement, but there are a few reasons for developing the new method here. “One was that we were always aware of the exposed location of the site, and plenty of our engineered solutions have been done to reduce the risk of weather and lifting. “The double-stepped terracing significantly reduces the amount of lifts needed and cuts down the time working on site, often at heights. “The by-product is that when you are building a football stadium, all the internal works and fit-out are generally underneath the terracing, so getting weathertight is on the critical path. “The infill joints are really important and here at Everton we have 33km of Mastic sealant within the bowl, so by having double-stepped units we need less of that too.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
GMI Construction Group has been appointed principal contractor to deliver the North East’s first Dakota Hotel. The luxury 118 room boutique hotel will transform the vacant St Anne’s Wharf at 112 Quayside, which fronts onto the River Tyne, and is scheduled for completion in Spring 2025 The development will generate 150 new jobs and provide an additional 65,000 visitor nights per year, creating an estimated £1.5m boost to the local economy. The contract win sees GMI Construction Group continue its strong relationship with the lifestyle luxury brand – having previously completed three Dakota Hotels in Manchester, Leeds, and Glasgow. The UK hotel chain, which also has hotels in Edinburgh and Motherwell, regularly welcomes celebrity guests. The contemporary hotel will retain much of the building’s current features and details, complementing its architectural heritage, while a new-look entrance lobby, reception and signature ground floor Bar & Grill. An existing courtyard at the front of the Quayside property will be reconfigured to provide a vehicle drop off area, while the first floor will feature bedroom terraces. In addition, PV panels and Air Source Heat Pumps will be installed to provide renewable energy. The building previously held a number of tenants, including law firm Womble Bond Dickinson. It had been based on the Quayside since 1998 until relocating its 400 staff into the Spark building at Newcastle Helix. Gary Oates, GMI’s Regional Director, said: “We are delighted that GMI has once again been chosen as principal contractor to deliver what will be our fourth Dakota development, and the first in the North East of England. “This project will regenerate and upgrade what has been a vacant landmark building, transforming it into a deluxe hospitality venue that will further bolster Newcastle’s national reputation as a destination city.” Marc Banks, Evans Property Group said, “We are incredibly proud to be delivering another synonymous for style and impeccable service, into the heart of Newcastle’s famous and bustling Quayside.” “Our commitment is to create not just a building, but a luxury hotel that encapsulates the city’s dynamic spirit, setting new standards in style and contemporary hospitality excellence”. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Hilton today announced the signing of Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre, signalling the market-leading brand’s debut in Western Europe, as part of a franchise agreement with JMK Group. Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will be located only 100m from the vibrant O’Connell Street, home to the world-famous St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Offering easy access to Dublin’s main attractions, including Trinity College, Temple Bar and the harbour, as well as being close to the headquarters for major companies like Google and Facebook, the hotel is the ideal base for those wanting to immerse themselves in the capital’s rich heritage or thriving business scene. The property will feature 290 rooms, including 214 king studio suites and 76 one-bedroom suites. Guests will enjoy signature Home2 Suites features and amenities, which are ideal for extended stays, including complimentary hot breakfast, flexible suite configurations with a full kitchen, multi-functional community spaces and combined fitness and laundry facility. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, EMEA, Hilton, said: “We are excited to announce the debut of Home2 Suites by Hilton in Western Europe, marking a significant milestone for the brand as it gains momentum in the region. As we explore opportunities for further expansion, the growing demand for extended stays presents an exciting opportunity to cater for the evolving needs of travellers in the region. We look forward to welcoming guests to this new property and redefining the extended stay experience.” Zain Kajani, director at JMK Group added: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Hilton once again to introduce the first Home2 Suites property to Western Europe. The signing marks a significant milestone in JMK Group and Hilton’s close partnership. The decision to open a hotel under the Home2 Suites brand aligns with JMK’s vision to provide exceptional accommodation which caters to both short stay and long stay travellers. We have full confidence that the property will deliver a unique and comfortable experience for domestic and international visitors, whether travelling for leisure or business.” With over 650 open hotels worldwide, the brand has emerged as one of the fastest growing in Hilton’s prestigious portfolio. Offering stylish and customisable accommodations designed to make travellers and their pets feel at home regardless of their length of stay, Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will also feature the brand’s trademark amenities, including: Home2 Suites by Hilton Dublin City Centre will participate in Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest-loyalty programme for Hilton’s distinct hotel brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount, free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors app, where Honors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. For more information, visit stories.hilton.com/home2suites. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An exciting, new holiday resort destination just 25 minutes from Glasgow city centre is set to open this summer as 18 luxury lodges, available for rental all year round, get under construction on the picturesque banks of the Clyde. The £2.5m investment project is being undertaken by River View Luxury Lodges, whose site is located by the end of the M8 at West Ferry, Langbank, Renfrewshire. Ground has been broken this week and the owners expect to welcome their first visitors this summer when the first tranche of 6 lodges open. Situated right on the southern edge of the river Clyde, with spectacular outlooks, each lodge will have uninterrupted views of Dumbarton Rock and beyond. Easy access is a key attraction, either from the M8 or Langbank railway station which sits on the Glasgow Central – Gourock line. Guests will be able to choose from two and three-bed high-end self-catering lodges, complete with jacuzzi, barrel steam room, a full suite of on-demand TV packages and BBQ. In addition there will be a dedicated space for weddings and other events. Popular local attractions include the Finlaystone Country Estate, with its woodlands, play areas and garden centre, hotel and leisure complex, Gleddoch Golf and Spa Resort, Coast Bar and Restaurant and Ingliston Hotel and Country Club. River View Luxury Lodges is a venture led by Calum Melville, CEO of Edison Capital, whose operations include East Kilbride-headquartered Principal Building, which will construct and install the lodges. Mr Melville said: “It has been a long road getting to this point but now that we have all the planning permissions in place, we are looking forward to seeing our vision made a reality. “The popularity of luxury self-catering lodges in Scotland over the last ten years is well-documented and West Ferry will offer not only a relaxing stay in an idyllic setting but is also readily accessible to a huge swathe of Scotland’s population, being just 10 minutes from the airport and 25 minutes from Glasgow city centre. “Langbank is a lovely, friendly village with a fine golf course and a hospitality venue that attracts wedding guests and others all year round, so we anticipate that the local economy will be given a welcome economic boost by the River View Luxury Lodges and the steady number of visitors we hope to attract. “In the wider area there’s something for everyone within a 30-minute drive including prestigious golf courses, fine dining, historical landmarks, and fantastic outdoor activities and scenery.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Everton is proud to reveal the fourth and final phase of ‘ALL’ seasonal memberships at the club’s iconic new waterfront stadium. Village Street and Trinity Place Bar, located in the West and East Stands respectively, offer supporters the chance to experience a range of vibrant bars and traditional style pubs that will entertain Evertonians on matchdays within the stadium footprint. ‘ALL’ delivers a revolutionary re-set of traditional football hospitality by allowing supporters to choose from a variety of bars, restaurants and experiences at Everton Stadium, designed to reflect the matchday rituals of fans. Ranging from fine dining and international cuisine restaurants to sports bars, traditional pubs and tapas-style venues, the choice of ‘ALL’ experiences on offer at Everton Stadium are unprecedented. They are also proving hugely popular, with the three earlier phases selling out ahead of schedule a demonstration of the demand for this new approach to premium experiences. This final phase incorporates names that are clearly associated with the fabric of Everton’s history and which are set to become go-to destinations before and after home games. Access to either Village Street or Trinity Place Bar is offered through a seasonal membership, which includes food and drink as well as some of the best seats in the stadium, spanning the half-way line. Village Street takes its name from the road in the city where St Domingo’s FC became Everton Football Club in 1879. It will now become home to a new era of matchday memories. Located in the heart of the west stand, this vibrant pre-match destination is home to four individual pub and bar spaces, offering a unique experience never seen in football. All offer different types of food and have been inspired by moments in the Club’s history, as well as legendary players and managers. One of two traditional pubs, The Queens Head, is named after the historic Village Street hostelry where, in November 1879, local football team St. Domingo’s FC was renamed Everton Football Club. The design of The Queen’s Head will provide a modern tribute to the aesthetics of the old pub, with a wooden bar and rich upholstery as well as a traditional beer menu. A second authentic pub, inspired by the vibrant matchday spirit of Evertonians, will help to be shaped by supporters to replicate the sights and sounds of traditional fan-favourite public houses. Also taking its place on Village Street is Kendall’s, a lively social bar named in honour of one of Everton’s finest players, and the Club’s greatest ever manager, Howard Kendall. This contemporary social space will offer supporters a vibrant place to enjoy some authentic beers and enjoy pre-and post-match entertainment. Dixie’s Sports Bar, named after the iconic Dixie Dean, completes the Village Street establishments and features big screens and televisions to keep track of all the latest sporting action from around the world. All seasonal memberships for Village Street are inclusive of food, wines, beers and soft drinks, for pre-match and half time. In addition to access to any of the four pubs and bars, members also benefit from premium padded seats spanning the half-way line in the upper tier of the West Stand. The second membership on offer is Trinity Place Bar, located in the east stand, adjacent to the Fan Plaza. The name is instantly synonymous with Everton fans of all ages through its link to the Club’s ‘Holy Trinity’ – Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey and Alan Ball. Trinity Place Bar celebrates the Club’s history through immersive media and treasured memorabilia, which members can explore each matchday. Live entertainment adds to the pre-match atmosphere and fans can stay close to the pre-match build-up across the many big screens. A key feature of Trinity Place is the striking central island bar, making it the perfect space for Evertonians to socialise, eat and drink within in a unique matchday environment. As well as complimentary drinks and a choice of freshly prepared street food dishes, Trinity Place Bar members also enjoy direct access to some of the best views the stadium has to offer on the halfway line, close to the pitch and with convenient access to the bar. Village Street and Trinity Place Bar complete the Club’s innovative portfolio of bars, restaurants and experiences available to all supporters at Everton Stadium, with demand for both these memberships unprecedented. The dedicated Everton Stadium Sales Team is currently managing consultations by private appointment, and fans can request information about securing Seasonal ‘ALL’ Bar Memberships by visiting the Everton Stadium website at www.evertonstadium.com/all and completing the Register Your Interest / request form. Highlights of the ALL portfolio, including the already seasonally sold-out Restaurants and Experiences can also be found at www.evertonstadium.com/all. Keep up to date with the latest developments on the construction of Everton Stadium at evertonstadium.com or @evertonstadium on twitter / X. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Improvement works to Romano Park in Ingleby Barwick have been completed, including a revamped play area with a unique, ‘dragon fort’ feature, which is the first of its kind. The bespoke play equipment includes the unique dragon fort and climbing ‘bloqx’ that were developed with input from local schoolchildren and members of the public. Young people and the Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees marked the completion of the installation of the items at the play park on Thursday (11 JAN) to officially open the new equipment. The children, from nearby Barley Fields Primary School in Ingleby Barwick, were on the site to use the dragon fort for the first time. The dragon’s features include a climbing wall, net and rock climber, a slide, balancing discs and intricate play panels. Other additions to the playpark include a new basket swing and repairs and replacement of existing items in the play area. In line with the Council’s ambition to make the Borough’s parks more inclusive for as many families as possible, the park also includes three new in-ground trampolines, accessible features on the dragon fort and a new sensory trail with musical instruments. A community garden on the site and a planting scheme with trees, shrubs and benches are also part of the overall improvements. The growing area will allow direct access from All Saints Academy school for young people to enjoy as well as wider community groups. There will also be better access to the platform near the Barwick Pond nature reserve and a re-marking of the Multi Use Games Area, which will allow children and young people to play various types of sports. The work has created a key visitor attraction as part of the town’s leisure offer and is part of the Council’s town centres investment programme, ensuring they are vibrant places and fit for future generations. Councillor Jim Beall, Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees, said: “It’s great to see the plans for Romano Park become a reality so that the Borough’s young people and their families can enjoy the open space and play equipment in a safe environment. “The improvements provide another useful addition to the active and healthy lifestyle offer for the residents of Ingleby Barwick, alongside the new leisure centre. “They combine with Council investment in the likes of IB Leisure Centre to play an important part in serving the community.” As part of the scheme, improved signage, replacement litter bins, additional benches and CCTV cameras were also installed, as well as an extension of the hard standing surfacing around the existing war memorial so that pop-up food and beverage concession opportunities can be explored. The improvements are a result of the ‘Let’s Talk About Our Towns’ public consultation that took place in 2020. The consultation showed support for more community leisure facilities, parks and gardens, as well as activities for young people. The Council worked with pupils at Myton Park Primary School, St Therese Primary School and Winstone Primary School to come up with ideas that would create a stand-out play area for families to enjoy. New swings, a dragon theme, climbing boulders and trampolines were just some of the ideas that children created and drew up to help shape the plans. The play equipment design and installation was completed by KOMPAN and the wider park improvements were completed by BCE Northern Ltd. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Travelodge, the UK’s first budget hotel brand which operates nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, today announces it has promoted and appointed Kirsty Berry as the Company’s new Head of Estates. Kirsty joined Travelodge in 2022 as Regional Estates Manager and has been an integral member of the UK Estates team since. With a background consisting of a vast range of property experience with a number of multi-site businesses including Domino’s UK and Majestic Wines, Kirsty has been crucially involved in various sublet deals and lease regears. This includes leading a unique sublet agreement for one of the UK’s first Popeyes Louisiana Chicken drive-thrus, at the Travelodge Northampton Way site, which the Group announced last year. Over the past year, a key strategic priority for the Property and Development function of the Travelodge business has been expanding the Estates team and its remit, due to the Company’s growing hotel portfolio and opportunities to improve its assets. The team is dedicated to supporting the hotels and the wider business with general estate matters and is also responsible for asset management, rent reviews, service charges, business rates, sublets, insurance, asset management, lease renewals and landlord approvals. Members of the Estates team are field-based so that they can make regular hotel visits, allowing full access to the Travelodge hotel portfolio and providing hands-on support for Travelodge’s hotel colleagues and its landlords. Reporting into the Chief Property and Development Officer, Kirsty will be overseeing all operations of the Estates function, made up of six team members, and is currently looking to expand the team further by the appointment of a Regional Estates Manager (South). For more details of this vacancy, please visit: https://www.travelodge.co.uk/careers/ Steve Bennett, Chief Property and Development Officer, Travelodge, comments: “We are delighted to be promoting Kirsty to the position of Head of Estates, as she has proven to be integral to the recent success of the Estates function. Kirsty’s industry expertise and experience represents a significant benefit to Travelodge as a business, and she has already played a crucial role in the growing and improving Estates Management team since joining in 2022.” Travelodge has a significant estate of nearly 600 hotels across the UK, Ireland and Spain, with over 580 of these hotels located throughout the UK. In addition, the group has a large sublet estate, with over 150 subtenants. Furthermore, with over 200 Bar Cafes, Travelodge is also one of the largest Food & Beverage operators in the country. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Leeds City Council has submitted plans to transform an ageing leisure centre site into a state-of-the-art and wellbeing hub. The council has had long-standing ambitions for Fearnville Leisure Centre in Gipton to be replaced with a facility that is fit for the 21st century. This could soon become a reality, with good progress being made towards identifying funding for a scheme that would deliver a significant boost to communities facing sizeable social and economic challenges. The council’s plans would see a new wellbeing centre being built on part of the King George V Playing Fields, a 28-acre green space that is home to the current Fearnville facility. Indoor amenities would include a large main swimming pool, learner pool, sports hall, fitness studios, spin room and a 120-station gym as well as a community café and adventure play area. Major improvements would also be made to Fearnville’s outdoor offer, with an all-weather pitch, tennis courts, skatepark and play zone among the proposed features. Tree-planting and soft landscaping would increase the site’s biodiversity, with insects, birds and other wildlife giving people fresh opportunities to get in touch with nature. The new-look centre would encourage more take-up of physical activity among residents in Gipton & Harehills and Killingbeck & Seacroft – densely-populated wards which suffer from low life expectancy and high obesity rates – as well as benefiting wider east Leeds. Local demand for sports and leisure facilities is set to grow in the coming years, with thousands of new homes planned through the East Leeds Extension and related development sites. Fearnville also offers essential learn-to-swim provision for more than 30 primary schools – part of the largest programme of its kind in the city. If plans are approved, it is hoped that work could get under way in the middle of 2024. The existing centre would remain open while the new facility takes shape on a part of the site that at present is occupied by a disused artificial football pitch. Then, once construction is complete, the current building – which dates back to the 1980s – would be demolished. The bulk of the funding for the scheme is proposed to be sourced from a mix of external grant support, the council’s capital programme and developer contributions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
