Since there are so many new hotel proposals for Leicester at the moment I thought this could act as a summary of the main schemes (be they part of a development or on their own).

Westbridge No.1 Tower - 5* Hotel on bottom half of tower (App)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/WstBrdg.jpg

St George's Tower - 3 or 4* hotel, also for bottom half of the tower (App)
http://www.stgeorgescentral.com/images/office_pic2.jpg

GS Picture House development - one block of the development will include a new hotel (App)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/04015-A.jpg

Welford Road, proposed new 12 storey 4* hotel, opp. Regent Road (App)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Hotel2.jpg

Yeoman Street, hotel of 14 storeys is proposed (Pro)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Yeoman.jpg

Bath Lane (next to Frog Isand and Westbridge Towers), proposed 4* 'specialist' hotel (Pro)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/BathHotel8.jpg

Leicester Tiger's Stadium redvelopment, Welford Road, proposed hotel as part of the scheme (Pro)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/385_lg.jpg

Burley's Way (Proposed 'St John's Business Centre'), part of an application for 'screening approval'

New hotel attached to the DMC?


BOUTIQUE HOTELS:

Maiyango (St Nicholas Place):
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Urban%20Leicester/IMG_0175.jpg

The City Rooms (Hotel Street):
http://www.thecityrooms.co.uk/images/facade_front.jpg
from www.thecityrooms.co.uk

Hotel on corner of Rutland Street/Charles Street (Former Norwich Union building) (App)
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/NorHotel.jpghttp://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/00101_820071210173116.jpg

...

Any others I've missed out?

I can't think of any others, which is why I get confused when people say we have too many hotel schemes. We need more...

Exactly, more hotels mean more demand from business/leisure visitors to the city.

Very good review of the Maiyango Boutique hotel on the back of the Observer travel magazine a couple of weeks ago. Gave it and the restaurant a very good write up.

Wow our hotels are now being mentioned in national newspapers now. ;)

It does look pretty swish. I've always fancied trying the restaurant, as I've heard it's good and does fantastic cocktails. As does that new place Epernay (which I have been to) - you can get pretty merry on a few of them!!!

Maiyango Hotel website (http://www.maiyango.com/maiyangohotel.htm)

I also spotted that there is some sort of comedy event taking place there for the Leicester Comedy Festival this year (a good way of having a nose). However, it sounds quite strange (comdeians in the bedrooms) - not quite sure what that is about

Link to Leicester Comedy Festival website (http://www.comedy-festival.co.uk/events/show.php?event_id=297&showdate=2008-02-08)

www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/jan/13/13

Have been to the restaurant a couple of times. Cocktail list great and food exceptional. Perhaps my favourite place to eat in Leicester

I like this bit of the article:

The view of Leicester from the rooftop terrace was a world away from the city I'd left. Okay, it's not Venice, but the cathedral spire and Victorian buildings of the High Street to the left certainly beat the building site that was the city centre I'd walked through earlier.

His view about Leicester is fair tbh, though I'd rather Leicester became a top weekend destination a bit quicker than a few years as he suggests! :D

Wait until highcross is finished and then high street is completed. Walk out of your hotel turn left and you have the CDL go straight on down the newly pedestrianised high street and you have the lanes on your right hand side. I think it will be a shoppers paradise within by the end of this year.

Definitely. :)

The Highcross cross marks the geographical centre of England, not Leicester. Our city is undergoing massive change, so some areas do resemble a building site.

Leicester IS a bit short of decent hotels, and I'd guess that agents are probably telling developers this.

90% of these are liekly to be operated by the big names (e.g a Radisson), so I'd imagine the developers will be trying hard to them to sign up for a scheme. Only when you see a name attached to these developments, can you guarentee it'll go ahead.

So many of the developments mentioned above have no names mentioned yet, even though they were approved ages ago.

I'd love for Leicester to have a Radisson, Malmaison, Marriott (city centre one), Hilton (city centre one) or even a Hyatt. I wonder who'd move into Westbridge? Would it be Hilton as with Manchester Beetham?

A Rocco Forte hotel would be nice for the Westbridge Development.

I'd never heard of that hotel group, though just seen their website, they only have 11 hotel in the whole of Europe - that would be a coup.

I've stayed at the St David's hotel in Cardiff, before they sold it, and the service that they provided was top notch and worthy of 5 stars. They really train their staff in the art of customer service.

Anyone else have a wish list of names for hotels they'd like to see in Leicester city centre?

I think definitely the ones mentioned above, apart from Hilton - they're shit. We don't have any De Vere hotels in Leicester either.

I also noticed this planning application (for lighting) not a hotel for Premier House on Rutland Street. The building that looks like this:

http://www.leicesterchronicler.com/L6.jpg


However, I noticed that the applicant is for the Real Hotel Company. I just wondered if they were planning a hotel for this building. It would be a shame, as it's a Grade II listed building, which I thought would have been more suited to a boutique type hotel.

Here's a link (http://www.leicesterchronicler.com/rutland.htm) to the building's history.

The Real Hotel Company (http://www.realhotelcompany.com/) appears to be a budget hotel group.

Leicester appears to be a target of theirs http://www.realhotelcompany.com/developers/locations/index.htm

I'd imagine they have seen the potential of being on the doorstep of the new theatre. I'm not really sure what a boutique hotel is. Stayed in one in London and it was rubbish. Full of character, but the lift didn't work, they had ran out of most breakfast items and staff had to run to a local shop to replenish the bar. It wasn't cheap either!

I'd never heard of that hotel group, though just seen their website, they only have 11 hotel in the whole of Europe - that would be a coup.

What you've never heard of Rocco Forte?!! Do you live under a stone? The Forte group were the UK largest hotel and catering group - they used to run half of the motorway service stations and the Post House hotel chain.

I must have been living under a stone too. Are we talking the old Trust House Forte chain? This company is a completely new one and old Rocco was allowed to use Forte as a gesture.

What you've never heard of Rocco Forte?!! Do you live under a stone? The Forte group were the UK largest hotel and catering group - they used to run half of the motorway service stations and the Post House hotel chain.

Of course I knew about Forte Posthouse or whatever it used to be, but I didn't know about them under they're new name, I thought they had been wiped off the face of the earth. :laugh:

I think definitely the ones mentioned above, apart from Hilton - they're shit. We don't have any De Vere hotels in Leicester either.

I also noticed this planning application (for lighting) not a hotel for Premier House on Rutland Street. The building that looks like this:

http://www.leicesterchronicler.com/L6.jpg


However, I noticed that the applicant is for the Real Hotel Company. I just wondered if they were planning a hotel for this building. It would be a shame, as it's a Grade II listed building, which I thought would have been more suited to a boutique type hotel.

Here's a link (http://www.leicesterchronicler.com/rutland.htm) to the building's history.

I saw that too, but I didn't mention it as they haven't applied for a hotel application yet?

I'm surprised it wasn't 'notched up' earlier, considering that almost all the other factories around there are now apartments.

Looks like the Welford Road 'blue' hotel will get permission next week :(:

HOTEL OPPOSED

10:30 - 22 January 2008



A new hotel in the city is set to get the go-ahead this week.

The hotel would have 160 bedrooms and be in Welford Road, Leicester, between Norton Street and Carlton Street.

The site is occupied by the 19th century Jemsox hosiery factory.

Leicester Civic Society and the Conservation Advisory Panel have objected. They say the new building would not be as good as the existing building.

Planning officers are recommending approval of the scheme by the planning committee tomorrow.
Leicester Mercury, 22nd January, 2008

I'm more concerned about the rubbish design. Let's hope it will look better when built if it gets approval.

^^The track record of recent renders have shown that most get worse not better...

Ummm. So my letter of disapproval did not help. Damn!

That's a shame. The Jemsox building is a good one and the new hotel looks shit.

We'll see what the outcome of todays meeting will be. I'm still not sure that the blue scheme will be what we get, if the application is approved. Some of the other designs considered look ok in the application documents. The original Victorian building is still better than all the new designs though!

What happened to this application?

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20051424

Ummm. So my letter of disapproval did not help. Damn!

Hi Leicity82. Looks as though your letter didn't arrive, as it isn't mentioned on the Reports of Applications and Contraventions (http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.asp?ID=11971&J=1) (page 16).

Hi Leicity82. Looks as though your letter didn't arrive, as it isn't mentioned on the Reports of Applications and Contraventions (http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.asp?ID=11971&J=1) (page 16).

Given that Leicester's Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP) has objected, I'm pretty amazed it's been advised for approval. What a crock.

I'm not exactly sure who sit's on this panel, but they should be the great and the good of Leicester. I know there is an RIBA rep on it.

How can the Civic Society call the area low rise?

Leicester City Council offices, De Montfort House, The NCP car park and James House immediately spring to mind!

who is the architect and developer for this -

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Hotel2.jpg

and also this

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Yeoman.jpg

What I want to know is, why the hell these architects find work with such poor designs. I mean really, a 2 year old could come up with something better than that drab crap.

Given that Leicester's Conservation Advisory Panel (CAP) has objected, I'm pretty amazed it's been advised for approval. What a crock.

I'm not exactly sure who sit's on this panel, but they should be the great and the good of Leicester. I know there is an RIBA rep on it.

According to the agenda...

Councillor Barbara Potter Member Expected
Councillor Bill Shelton Chair Expected
Councillor Colin Hall Member Expected
Councillor Dr Shofiqul Chowdhury Member Expected
Councillor Harshad Bhavsar Member Expected
Councillor Iqbal Desai Member Expected
Councillor Rashmikant Joshi Member Expected
Councillor Rob Wann Member Expected
Councillor Veejay Patel Member Expected
Councillor Matt Follett Member Expected
Councillor Barbara Chambers Member Expected
Councillor Hussein Suleman Member Expected
Councillor Andy Bayford Member Expected

What I want to know is, why the hell these architects find work with such poor designs. I mean really, a 2 year old could come up with something better than that drab crap.

I can count the number of clients who really value design on the fingers of one hand. Cost and pliability is everything.

Lears, I think you misunderstood me there. The Conservation Advisory Panel is made up of a professionals, rather than councillors. It's like a local version of a CABE panel.

There will likely be a representative of the Royal Town Planning Institute and a senior architect from the RIBA.

Yeah sorry, I thought you meant the Council Planning Committee...

Like you said the CAP don't like the hotel, because it isn't better than the present building.

Included is a list of attendees from the most recent CAP meeting:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/Published/C00000289/M00002005/$$$Agenda.doc.pdf

Included is a list of attendees from the most recent CAP meeting:

http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/Published/C00000289/M00002005/$$$Agenda.doc.pdf
Thanks that's really interesting. I know at least one person on that panel.

I think they RIBA are asked to contribute someone, but they haven't in awhile. Is there a link for any more information about CAP?

Hi Leicity82. Looks as though your letter didn't arrive, as it isn't mentioned on the Reports of Applications and Contraventions (http://www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk/mgConvert2PDF.asp?ID=11971&J=1) (page 16).

Sorry I actually sent an email, not a letter. Surley, they should have got that??? I don't think they will mention objections in there, rather it says on the LCC website that a folder will be kept with the application and emails, etc in it for the public to see.

I like the way the document states that the hotel is 'impressive'. :laugh: It could be worse, but it could also be a whole lot better.

The only thing that's impressive is the severe lack of imagination, and the ability to reuse 1960s architecture.

The fact that it will be a 'throw-back' to the bad old days is one of the things I pointed out in the email. :ohno:

That's the thing, come a year after construction, it'll look like it's been there for decades with such a design.

It'll look no better than its neighbouring building, well in its boxy shape anyway. I'm really disappointed with the architects and with the council (if it gets approval).

Going back to what SirRobert said, about it being rather basic probably due to cost. Well bloody hell, since when has simple got to be ugly.. I just don't know how the architects ever thought they'd be any good in this world.. useless.

Rant over ;)

tbh I prefer the proposed 14 storey Yeoman Street design to the Welford Road one, despite it being the typical modern design.

Without a shadow of a doubt mate.. that development on Yeoman street is the Luvre compared to that thing on Welford Road.

...and that says something. I don't even think the Yeoman Street one is going to be a 4* hotel like Welford Road one will be.

Just checked the updated applications list and there seems to have been no decision made as yet.

They take ages updating the database, if it is ever updated at all.

Sad I know but I've noticed that the planning details are either updated just after 12 am or just after 10 pm - seems like a computer updates them :nuts:.

A view at the rear of the proposed (don't know if approved) new blue hotel on Welford Road:

http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj294/leicesterregeneration/RearWelfordRoadHotel.jpg

Surprise, surprise the hotel has been granted conditional approval:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20072084

Bad news :ohno:

Yes :(. It's one step forward and two steps back with that sheme. :ohno:

who is the architect and developer for this -

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Hotel2.jpg

and also this

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Yeoman.jpg

For the first I think it's Lang Daniels Paterson (judging from application) and for the other its Kent Porter Warren (also from application). :)

I think a lot of recent proposals are just developers dipping their toe in the water to keep their options open.

There doesn't appear to be any particular customer demonstrating a specific need.

I feel these recent planning applications are speculative to say the least and i will be surprised if any actually get built.

Lang Daniels Paterson haven't come up with anything else as bad as this before. I still think this isn't the design that will get built - though that is me only guessing. The architects have been dealing with some pretty good hotel chains too.

http://www.ldparchitects.com/case_studies.asp?csID=15&iID=26

But this one will be an Etap then, or a Holiday Inn (budget type).

The only time i'm praying the build looks nothing like the early render.. pleeeasse!

Lang Daniels Paterson haven't come up with anything else as bad as this before. I still think this isn't the design that will get built - though that is me only guessing. The architects have been dealing with some pretty good hotel chains too.

http://www.ldparchitects.com/case_studies.asp?csID=15&iID=26

That's what I was thinking. Those designs look really nice, unlike 'our' design.

If it's a Holiday Inn does that mean that maybe, just maybe... :D

Hmmm? :| However, the architects seem to work with Accord Hotels and Marriott.

If it's a Holiday Inn does that mean that maybe, just maybe... :D

Maybe they'll knock the even worse-looking Holiday Inn down on St Nicholas circle?

LET'S BLOODY HOPE SO!

If that was the case i'd welcome this shitty Welford Road design with open arms!

An interesting angle that d4mo85. I too would welcome the Welford Road Blue Tower, if the Holiday Inn at West Bridge, was to be replaced with something decent. Removal of St Nicholas Circle would be good too - then we could have a proper museum, that links the history of Leicester from Roman times, through to the 19th century. You could walk between Jewry Wall Museum, the Castle precinct, Castle Gardens and The Newarke, without fear of death by car. I'd replace the Holiday Inn with either a museum dedicated to Leicester's medievel history, or an extension to Castle Gardens.

Obviously none of this is going to happen - so I don't know why I bother. Why would we want tourists to come and visit such a unique attraction - because they are only going to spend money in our shops and fill up our hotel rooms...

PERMISSION GIVEN FOR 12-STOREY, FOUR-STAR HOTEL
Be the first reader to comment on this story

10:30 - 31 January 2008



A hotel is set to be built after councillors gave the go-ahead.

The four-star hotel will have 160 bedrooms and will be built in Welford Road, Leicester, between Norton Street and Carlton Street.

The glass-fronted building will be 12 storeys high and include 850 square metres of conference facilities.



There are no parking spaces included in the plans.

Developers said there was plenty of parking available for people in the city centre already.

The site is occupied by the 19th century Jemsox hosiery factory, which will be demolished to make way for the hotel.

Leicester Civic Society and the Conservation Advisory Panel objected to the plans.

They said the building would not be as good as the existing factory.

Council officers had recommended approval of the scheme.

That's a shame.

Incidentally while I suspect there is a need for new, good quality hotels in Leicester, I doubt this is the place for it. I can see it becoming an Ibis or something cheap.

Funnily enough, we had a problem with finding a hotel for a vaguely important person last week. We ended up putting him up in the Belmont, which is hardly Caesar's Palace. Otherwise the only nice hotels are out of the City. No, I'm not including either the Grand or the Holiday Inn, both of which need updating.

I suspect the city also loses out on business meeting and conference space. Drop into the Hilton and you'll be surprised how busy it is. I'd guess it also benefits from the middle-aged businessman meeting hooker market too!

The Marriott at J21 seems to be a big favourite too. The best looking hotel by a country mile is the Grand - fantastic architecture. We lose out on business meetings and conference space, because we don't have an arena! Also it doesn't help when new hotels get approved, without parking spaces...

no fucking parking spaces, are they having a day off? a massive conference centre (i think) guests rooms and no fucking parking spaces? do all buissiness men (and lets not forget bussiness women or working girls, which ever u prefer to call them) travel by fucking train? at 38,000 pound a season ticket, and they call themselves buissiness men? get a fucking showfer driven mercedes and claim the fucker back as expenses

ive completely forgot wot i was on about, and am i fuck going to read it all back

We definitely need more hotels, and quality ones at that, including ones specifically geared towards business visits too and including a major conference centre. The former International Hotel site, the Granby Halls site and the vacant land on Vaughan Way would be ideal.

We definitely need more hotels, and quality ones at that, including ones specifically geared towards business visits too and including a major conference centre. The former International Hotel site, the Granby Halls site and the vacant land on Vaughan Way would be ideal.

No hope of getting a hotel proposed for the granby halls site. There has recently been a planning application for the site to become a temporary car park for 5 more years. I hope it is rejected. :bash:

link: http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080063

Yeah, well maybe some time after that :ohno:. Afterall the council themselves recommend it as an ideal place for a hotel development. Let's hope they don't miss this opportunity to get this prime piece of land developed and not letting it go to waste as just a car park.

Developers said there was plenty of parking available for people in the city centre alreadyWhat, overnight? Safe? And within the immediate vicinity of the hotel? They must be joking :mad::ohno::bash:

To be fair, there is a NCP car park across the road, which is just as safe as any hotel's car park. I've stayed in plenty of hotels where I have had to use a nearby public car park and the hotel usually has a deal with them.

Oh, I didn't realize that .. perhaps the developers should have pointed that out as well :|



BG

no fucking parking spaces, are they having a day off? a massive conference centre (i think) guests rooms and no fucking parking spaces? do all buissiness men (and lets not forget bussiness women or working girls, which ever u prefer to call them) travel by fucking train? at 38,000 pound a season ticket, and they call themselves buissiness men? get a fucking showfer driven mercedes and claim the fucker back as expenses

ive completely forgot wot i was on about, and am i fuck going to read it all back

You've got the white NCP car park opposite so I don't think there is a need for another car park here.

^^ Does this car park offer overnight parking though. And maybe a discount to hotel patrons?


Last year when I met up for the Christmas p!ss-up with fellow forumers on another board I'm on the hotel though small did have its own carpark .. a bit of a squeeze to say the least, it was on a corner plot and took a bit of skill to get my small car into the remaining free space between the mercs and jags. No prizes for guessing what I would have done if I'd touched one lol :D


BG

Does the Holiday Inn use the NCP car park nextdoor?

I was staying in Plymouth last week they've built a Jury's Inn near the Barbican and shopping but without a car park which is about a 2 minute walk from the hotel. Although not ideal its okay. I suspect that the under used NCP would want to strike a deal with whichever hotel group takes up this crap looking development.

Does the Holiday Inn use the NCP car park nextdoor?

Yes

You've got the white NCP car park opposite so I don't think there is a need for another car park here.

Ahem! Are we talking about Welford Road carpark, which is too tight for large vehicles? Not ideal for business users is it?!?

Well there's that one, which I agree isn't the roomiest car park - but you should be able to if you have a driving license. There is also the Newarke St car park which is huge and has plenty of space.

It's not too far from the train station too, therefore easy for business train travellers too.

^^ You mean those who can't find an empty room at the prestigious SGT :D:D



BG

Of course :D.

I don't think the parking will be a problem really, it won't be the first time an inner-city hotel has had no on-site parking facilities and so i'm sure it won't affect it when push comes to shove.

It'd have been cool to have basement parking though, too expensive I guess..

Basement parking would have been nice. Or even above-ground parking adding an extra couple of floors :) you can still have a nice frontage, perhaps with the lobby/bars etc. hiding the car park section. They could charge a little extra for the parking as well ;)


BG

a mate of mine took us all up town in his brand new car last year and parked it the phoenix car park, he wanted to leave at 10pm but we persuaded him to stay out until 3am, wen we got to the car park, it was closed and he had to wait until six for it to reopen (the rest of us got a taxi ha ha) surely a car park that closes at night is no good for a hotel?

It probably only closes as there isn't much call for a 24hr car park in that area. If the hotel is built, i'm sure they could ask that they open 24hrs.

Work should be beginning on the former Norwich Union building (Charles/Halford Street) 'boutique' hotel
soon according to the architect's website:

http://www.pensongroup.com/project.php?project_id=101

New night render of the hotel from their website:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/00101_820071210173116.jpg

So that will be 3 boutique hotels then in the city centre. :)

Plus where's this 'Hampton by Hilton' hotel going to be (120 bed):

http://www.pensongroup.com/project.php?project_id=62

I like the look of that especially as that site has been ready for development for a while. Hopefull we dont have to compare that render to what is actually built, a la Thames Tower!!

I like the look of that especially as that site has been ready for development for a while. Hopefull we dont have to compare that render to what is actually built, a la Thames Tower!!

Because it will be a 'boutique' hotel then hopefully it will do as it says on the render.

Here's a reminder of what the other renders are like:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/NorHotel.jpg

I'm abit confused, but weren't the architects Maber?

I've never noticed that staircase before - looking good!

Has anyone else noticed the sign on the render 'Luce e Sogno HOTEL'? There's no such thing? :lol: I assume it's just a made-up name for the render. :dunno:

I think you can see the staircase from Charles Street. Its the only impressive thing about the building.

Hampton by Hilton is the Hiltons Economy brand so any of the new proposals from Welford Road to Picture House or any of the others. The only thing I noticed on the architects website was a mention of internal structural problem??? Hopefully they dont intend putting it in Connect 4

It means "Light and Dream" - so who knows?

Well if it's economy probably :lol:. I don't think there will be any 4* coming tp SGT now.

It means "Light and Dream" - so who knows?

Is it Spanish?

Italian

Oh I see.

Another hotel for Charles Street (change of use) by the same owner of the former Norwich Union building:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080431

Another hotel for Charles Street (change of use) by the same owner of the former Norwich Union building:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080431

This is very interesting and potentially very exciting. The site is 88 - 90 Charles street which is right next door to the existing hotel proposal for the same developer (Norwich Union site). I can't imagine they would have two hotels next to each other but be creating a single hotel.

88 - 90 is the 3 storey unattractive brick building - (I've looked at it on Live Search but don't know how to save it into Imageshack to display - sorry). I would hope they want to demolish this building and build an extension to the Norwich Union building thus creating a significant frontage on Charles street.

As Leicity pointed out the other week there is a new application for the Norwich Union site - no docs loaded up for either proposal. This is probably why the redevelopment of the Norwich Union site hasn't kicked off.

Ooh something more to look forward! :)

the same firm doing the hamilton by hilton are doing the playboys club in london, playboy magazine is fucking rubbish but ive heard the clubs are something special

Renders for the proposed Charles Street hotel (extension application):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080430

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/HiltHamp.jpg

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/HamHilt1.jpg

Confirmation that it will be a 'Hilton Hampton' then.

It's blue!

alrite its a budget hotel apparantley, but they could have spent a few more shillings on better renders rather than employ some five year old window licker from the local special needs school

Application for link to proposed hotel on Charles Street from the extended bit and 2 storey extension:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080431

Hopefully we can get some of these hotels soon. I regularly contribute on tripadvisor and someone posted a question about reasonably priced hotels near leicester Uni. They didnt say which uni but I struggled to think of a decently priced option near DMU or Leic Uni.

DMU - the Travelodge next to HX is a very short walk away. They have a £29 offer I think?

Leicester Uni - Spindle Lodge, just off New Walk

Cheers Lears will post it on tripadvisor

Thanks

Hopefully we can get some of these hotels soon. I regularly contribute on tripadvisor and someone posted a question about reasonably priced hotels near leicester Uni. They didnt say which uni but I struggled to think of a decently priced option near DMU or Leic Uni.

How about the Holiday Inn Express? :dunno:

They are near enough?

That seedy club/snooker club building on Rutland Street is set to become a 40 bedroom hotel (no docs yet):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080728

Very handy for the Curve theatre goers.

The application for the proposed 14 storey hotel on Yeoman Street has been withdrawn, which is a shame:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20072243

There would probably have been problems with it being so close to the listed Secular Hall on Humberstone Gate East.

^^

Looks like new plans have been submitted for the Yeoman Street Hotel (no details as yet):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080962

Originally proposed was this 14 storey one (a reminder):
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Yeoman.jpg

Good news. Plans have been resubmitted for a 15 storey hotel on Yeoman Street. No details as yet.

I hope the design is better.

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080962

Extension proposed for Old Odeon Cinema (Queen Street Athena) for a hotel and conference facility - sounds very interesting. There are no details as yet:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20089001P

Let's hope its sympathetic to the building and not some concrete monstrosity plonked on top

Did see them clearing equipment out of the Jemsox factory site on Saturday. The proposed hotel on Welford Road. I think this is just used as a warehouse now, with them shipping the socks in from somewhere like China. Dont know if they are clearing everything out, will have a look next time I walk past.

Hey guys,

Dont know whether you know this or not - but the renders for the proposed renders for the International Hotel, on Humberstone Gate are now available to view online. These renders are from 1999 - and they look BRILLIANT. :) I have no idea why the hotel wasnt redeveloped :ohno: - Look at the plans - u'll see what I mean - they look amazing!!

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/ResultSet.aspx?AppNo=&Address=international%20hotel&UPRN=&Wrd=&AppType=&DateRecFrm=&DateRecTo=&DateDecfrm=&DateDecTo=&Proposal=&DecisionType=

That is a shame. Though I'd expect something even better, now that our city is actually going places. I hope some developer is reading this!!!

Heres a screenshot:

http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/6885/86098246zo4.png

Here it is in all it's glory:

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/IntHot.jpg

Here's the architect's website: http://www.wm-saunders.co.uk/

But there is no mention of this scheme.

Oh Snap :lol:

There is actually currently activity going on at the International Hotel. There is a contracter on a window cleaner lift on the tower section of the hotel. I dont know if this means anything though. There is also a fence going around the tower of the hotel, and you are not allowed to walk on the pavement. Could it be this development finally getting underway??

^^

Or just remedial work to the tower before a piece of concrete falls on someone and they sue the owners. :ohno:

tbh I hope they are doing something major to it - like demolishing it.

Wasn't this about the time the building was converted as accommodation for asylum seekers? Which it is not now.

Does look as though they have cleared out from the Jemsox factory site. Walked past it this morning and all the offices have been cleaned out. Wonder when work may start on this one?

I hope this development will start soon, unlike others I could mention.

Extension proposed for Old Odeon Cinema (Queen Street Athena) for a hotel and conference facility - sounds very interesting.

Probably for competition purposes with all the development in the cultural quarter and the Curve being right opposite and also so is not beaten by it's rival LEC - Leicester Exhibition Centre on the site of the former FDW building near Burleys Flyover - it was supposed to be a 'dazzling' venue - looks a bit boring from the outside - i am dissapointed with that. They should have demolished it completely and built something which is 'dazzling'. As for the warehouse next door is for sale - this could be another development opportunity - presumably flats or apartments i guess from whoever is going to buy it.

Are you talking about the Campanile Hotel? The warehouse was part of the FDW change of use, though the plans were later withdrawn. Wasn't the former International Hotel on Humberstone Gate the Leicester Exhibition Centre?

The Athena extension application doesn't seem to exist anymore. :?

I heard that the Academy Music Group were looking at the old Odeon site before Athena took it. Apparently it was in consideration of becoming a Carling Academy Leicester venue. I think it's absolutely perfect for a Carling Academy Leicester and would love nothing more than for AMG to take the site and covert it into a music venue, Athena is such a waste, the architecture of the building and the interior could be used so well by AMG. It'd fit perfectly into the cultural quater and provide an awesome mid sized venue equiped to draw big name artists to the city... If only!

I actually emailed AMG recently and put in an arguement for why Leicester should be considered for an AMG venue, specifically siting the Athena building. Never got a reply, sucks to know that the building could have been used so well!

Think of it this way - they could take over one of Leicester's other disused large buildings. :|

It's just cool to know that it could have been there cos Athena is such a waste of the site and now with it being billed the cultural quater, it's just such an ideal spot.

We have a habit of missing good opportunities here in Leicester. :ohno:

What's the chances of the owners of the Athena selling? From what I can tell its main business is corporate functions. So whilst it might not be heaving with top class entertainment activity, they could still be making a bob or two from feeding fat businesspeople :tongue2:

It has also held the Miss England competition once or twice I think?

I hope I'm right as I think the former international hotel building is going to be demolished!!!:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20081050

There can't be any other 'derelict hotel buildings' on that road? Plus with all the fencing around the site. :banana:

^^

Actually I think it's a totally different building. :(

About bloody time. Knock it down before it falls down (or should I say continue to fall down) !! Hope something tall gets built there.



BG

It's 320 - 334 Humberstone Road

Not Gate.

Ah bugger, I was all excited when I read that the International Hotel was being ripped down.

I'm sure it will come down in time (by it's own accord most likely) and I have my fingers crossed developers will have the vision to create more tall buildings in that area.

Crikey, what an eye-sore :(

There's a short story by Graeme Greene called "The Destructors".

You should try and read it some time. It might give you a few ideas ;)

This is part of the plan to widen Uppingham Road

Ah bugger, I was all excited when I read that the International Hotel was being ripped down.

I'm sure it will come down in time (by it's own accord most likely) and I have my fingers crossed developers will have the vision to create more tall buildings in that area.

Crikey, what an eye-sore :(

Couldn't agree more.

I suppose when I read the two words 'Humberstone' and 'Hotel' I could only think of one place. :nuts:

Work should be starting this month on the new Hampton by Hilton hotel on Charles/Rutland Streets (old Norwich Union building). This is updated info from the architect's website (Penson):

BACKGROUND
PENSON is transforming a 1960's concrete framed & clad building into a real gem within the heart of Leicester. Located on the main drag of bars & restaurants in the city centre, this building will introduce a vibrant glass facade packed with light & activity.

With an additional floating floor, Leicester's best spiral staircase is to be enlivened & with some of the most sumptuous bedrooms in store, this is set to be a true destination hotel.

Construction commences in June 2008 & we are pleased to announce that Hilton Hotels have selected the project to be one of the first Hampton by Hilton units in the UK.
See: http://www.pensongroup.com/project.php?project_id=101

So good news there then. :) Some of the boarding on the ground floor has also been removed noticed.

It's this one:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/NorHotel.jpg

This is something I strongly object to. Are we going to see another blitz on terraced houses like the 1960s? Starting to look that way isn't it. :rant: just what anyone living in the immediate area needs if they were planning on selling and moving. They are good sized houses as well. I can't see any benefit either, it didn't exactly help when they demolished all those buildings on the City side of the railway bridge as the bridge itself is still a bottleneck .. and the traffic problem is MUCH worse further out on the approach to Coleman Road(?) and past Wilkinson's. Takes fucking ages to crawl through that section, I was stuck in a queue at about quarter past 5 today (Sunday) and it's bloody murder at peak times
:bash:

Typical that some of the houses have recently had the windows replaced, fucking waste of taxpayers' money as usual :bash: anyone remember the Boot houses on Saffron Lane Estate .. they replaced all the windows then demolished the lot a couple of years after. What a waste :mad:


It does explain why the houses near the junction have been boarded up for ages. I expect that the houses at the other end of the row have been CPO'd as they are privately owned?


SOLUTION: Re-Nationalize Public Transport and make it affordable! Fuckwits :ohno: £1.80 from Saffron Lane to town is a fucking rip-off. It's a LOT cheaper to drive. Reinstate the railway which used to run to East Leicester and demolish those crappy prefab flat-roof houses they built along Telford Way! My Grandma had to pay a fortune to have the roof redone as it was crap and have the windows replaced as the untreated timber had gone rotten 14 years after they were built.


Rant over :rant:


BG

I take it that the 'hotel' in question is on the corner of Humberstone Road and Forest Road?

The house next door has been derelict for years and now that the hotel is closed the only solution seems to be demolishing what are quite robust houses. I agree and it is a shame. A CPO could have been issued, then agian there's always the 'we don't know who owns the property' excuse. :ohno:

The Hampton by Hilton will be a nice addition to that area. Walked past the other day but no sign of work starting. Hopefully they might have a nice bar on the ground floor as you could have seating on the newly pedestrianised area outside.

Where abouts on Charles Street is this gonna be? Looks awesome.

I think it's the building on the corner of Halford Street and Charles street, grey coloured 60s building. I think the first picture in those renders is taken from outside the Ale Wagon on Rutland Street (or thereabouts) :)

About time that area was being uplifted especially as Curve is about to open soon.

The proposed hotel on Welford Road has been put on the market with www.christie.com This is an international firm so hopefully things may move fast on this one.

Is that to find a developer and/or hotel chain for the scheme?

A scheme to re-use the former International Hotel as a hotel and conference centre, was approved in 1997. Obviously that went nowhere. It's the Cinderella building of Leicester. :ohno:

Here's the diagrams:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/ImageSrcaspx.jpg

This is the planning application:
http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=19961199

There's been a number of unsuccessful attempts to re-use the building, which is quite sad for a prime site- just look at the list of applications:
http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/PPRNResults.aspx?PPRN=NMR1671

The sign from Christies is looking at developers, it just says fro sale with planning approval for 160 bed hotel

Hopefully the development will go ahead quite rapidly. :)

Mind you signs like that can stay up for ages. :|

Walked by the old International Hotel, Humberstone Gate earlier this week. I noticed the hoist and was surprised to see the concrete ribbs being repaired. (good quality job too)

Hmmmmm is it just for safety reasons or is the owner redeveloping ?

The building has had numerous different applications and visions since being a rather dissapointing Exhibition Centre and latterly an Asylum Hostel. Could the owner be thinking that i have a building which is now a real asset being so close to Curve that it's time to beat the competition and convert to a hotel ?

If so will it be cheap refirb or will this sows ear turn into a silk purse ? now that would be a result !!!!

I like the concrete tower extension as it complements Cardinal Telephone Exchange.

Even if at least, as you suggest WOTZA, the owner refurbishes and or redevelops the building into a quality development that that would be good. Even though I still prefer a new build on site. :D

If it is refurbed, let's hope it doesn't turn into another SGT! :shifty:

Hopefully its not just remidial works. Every time I go past it looks as though more of it has fallen off. Surely a prime site for a quality development. Like you say though more likely to tart it up and paint it blue.

:cry: :lol:

Looks like work is finally starting on the renovation of the building which will become the Hampton by Hilton on Charles Street. There are now boards of Boss Construction on the ground floor and the building next door is starting to be demolished (where Black Cats used to be).

At last that part of Charles Street will improve. :)

Thanks for the update Leicity82. Great news. I feared that this would never start.

I thought it would never start too. I hope the other Charles Street schemes will start soon, i.e the new offices/restaurant near to Colton Square and dare I say the 10 storey 'glass' apartment block near to the Foister Building. :|

If they improve the shops on the other side of the road then this will really improve the 'gateway' into the curve theatre. Pity cant do much about the car park

Looks like work is finally starting on the renovation of the building which will become the Hampton by Hilton on Charles Street. There are now boards of Boss Construction on the ground floor and the building next door is starting to be demolished (where Black Cats used to be).

At last that part of Charles Street will improve. :)

The building is an eyesore (especially as I see it everytime I look out of my living room window!) and very glad that something's finally being done with it. (They've very nearly finished demolishing the 2 storey brick buildings adjacent to the tower). However, I'm disappointed with the latest renders for the building - the original conceptions were much better.


If they improve the shops on the other side of the road then this will really improve the 'gateway' into the curve theatre. Pity cant do much about the car park

jaybob - A conditional approval has been granted for the discount warehouse shop Wentworth's to be converted into a restaurant - http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080832

The Car Park - well, it's a beast isn't it - I'm kinda hoping that it'll get a bit of a facelift - but I'm not gonna hold my breath. It looks like as far as they'll get is giving the stairwell a lick of paint.

There's also been a bit of interest recently in the outlets at the bottom of The Exchange Building (me being one of them).


http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080728 - This is a beautiful building (needs a good hosing mind; especially the basement :) ) Really hope this development is pushed through.

Welcome to the forum Ruts. :)

Apart from the car park, the area around Curve will improve dramatically. It's nice to know that there will be at least 2 hotels within walking distance of the new theatre.

That should certainly help to make it more attractive to out of town visitors.

And talking of "hotels", has anyone else noticed that they've patched the tower on the old International/LEC up?

I've not been to that end of Humberstone gate for a while. Has it improved the appearance of building at least?

Welcome to the forum Ruts. :)

Apart from the car park, the area around Curve will improve dramatically. It's nice to know that there will be at least 2 hotels within walking distance of the new theatre.

Thanks for the welcome - have been reading the forum for a while, so thought I'd sign up and get involved. Personally, I think this part of town(around the theatre) would be ideal to create quite an upmarket area of town - slightly posher bars & restaurants, 4* hotels etc. The architecture and general infrastructure, coupled with the close proximity of the Business Quarter, SHOULD be able to handle it and be very attractive to investors. I wouldn't really like to see many high rises in this part of town, and would kind of question the proposal for the 15 storey hotel on Yeoman Street - it would need to be a quality build. (In saying that, it would be adjacent to Humberstone House and Vestry House and not too far from International Hotel - so maybe the current proposal would be an improvement after all :D )

That should certainly help to make it more attractive to out of town visitors.

And talking of "hotels", has anyone else noticed that they've patched the tower on the old International/LEC up?

Yeah, I noticed - I think it was just a bit of remedial work as chunks of the tower were falling off (again)!

With the plans for Southampton Street, Spa Buildings, etc then I'm sure many retailers/eateries will want to move there and create a really cosmopolitan atmosphere.

From today's Mercury:

HOTEL BOOKS IN TO TOWER

BY JENNY CORNISH
CHIEF POLITICAL REPORTER

10:30 - 24 July 2008

A hotel chain has begun the transformation of a colourful landmark.

The bright blue St George's Tower, near Leicester railway station, is being converted in part into a Premier Inn hotel.

The rooms are due to open to the public in January. There will be 135 beds.

A front entrance is being created off Campbell Street and the inside of the tower is being fitted out.

The 20-storey block has stood empty since 1999, when BT left.

The hotel will take up nine floors of the tower, with the rest likely to be used for apartments.

Elsewhere in the development, companies have been examining a range of uses, including restaurants, shops, a gym and a bowling alley.

The ground floor had been earmarked for a casino until a licence application was rejected late last year.

Now, letting agents are talking to retailers about possibly taking over this area.

Two floors of office space, with 45,000sq ft each, plus a 20,000sq ft mezzanine, have not yet been let.

Developers are now looking at fitting out one of the office floors themselves to try to encourage companies to move in.

Anthony Payne, from agent Bradfield Wentworth, is handling lettings for the commercial elements of the St George's development.

He said: "These offices do make fantastic working environments.

"It just needs someone with a bit of imagination.

"Most of the office users in Leicester don't occupy enough space to take one of these offices.

"But a host of people need space of this size, and where we are is only an hour from London.

"This sort of office space is £30 per sq ft in Birmingham, here it's £12.

"We have had some discussions but we haven't got to the point where we've agreed terms.

"We're now looking at fitting out one of the office floors in a style that we're comfortable with. An occupier would come in and take that on."

There has been some interest in the top floor of the building, which could be used for a variety of different businesses.

"We've had one company come to look at putting a massive restaurant up there.

"It could be a gym, and we had someone looking at it for a bowling alley, or it could become office space as well," said Mr Payne.

"This building has had a bit of a mixed press but, from an occupier's point of view, it's a very high-profile building."

Premier Inn said it was pleased to be occupying another site in Leicester.

The chain already has six hotels in Leicester, with 410 rooms in total.

Kevin Murray, acquisition manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, on behalf of Premier Inn, said: "Right next door to the train station, St George's Tower is a great location for Leicester's latest Premier Inn.

"We're looking forward to opening for business by the start of the new year."
Leicester Mercury website, 24th July 2008.

See: http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=132407&command=displayContent&sourceNode=132390&contentPK=21147229&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

I'm glad retail is back on the table for SGT. Let's hope there are some decent companies interested to provide a counterweight to HXL.

Probably for competition purposes with all the development in the cultural quarter and the Curve being right opposite and also so is not beaten by it's rival LEC - Leicester Exhibition Centre on the site of the former FDW building near Burleys Flyover - it was supposed to be a 'dazzling' venue - looks a bit boring from the outside - i am dissapointed with that. They should have demolished it completely and built something which is 'dazzling'. As for the warehouse next door is for sale - this could be another development opportunity - presumably flats or apartments i guess from whoever is going to buy it.

The building behind Athena has been advertising on boards attached to its exterior that it has detailed planning permission for a mixed use site of apartments / retail / bars etc., including allowance to build a 9-story block. It also stated that developers should express an interest prior to 21st May 08 - so perhaps an announcement on that plan could be announced in the not too distant future?

Yes that's going to be the mixed-use building on the Old Spa Buildings site, see the following thread:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=509863

A couple of photos of the Hamilton Hotel on Charles St (nothing really to see, but they've demolished the low-rise buildings next to the tower now, and are preparing the foundations work).

http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg308/eastmidspotter/012.jpg


http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg308/eastmidspotter/013-2.jpg

Thanks for the photos. :) Well it has opened the place up, even though it's temporary.

Nice photos Ruts. Would be nice if they could get rid of the little concrete dividers where the spiral staircase is and have it as one long glazed area, floor to roof.

Would be nice if they could get rid of the little concrete dividers where the spiral staircase is and have it as one long glazed area, floor to roof.

I think those concrete panels are staying, though I don't think they will be as prominent as they are at the moment:

From planning application:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/HiltHamp.jpg

Love that spiral staircase !

The roof top terrace also looks nice on the renders. Presume will be for hotel residents.

Origianlly it was going to be 2 storeys, but the planners thought it to be too high! :|

It's a shame that the space to the right of the staircase only reaches the 4th floor and not the 7th like that to the left - and I'm still not convinced on those renders. They still feel a letdown in comparison to the originals (especially as I'm going to have the rear of the building overlooking my living room!)

Still, it's a great improvement on what I have to look at at the moment!

Do you live in the Exchange buildings?

We all know on this forum to take renders with a pinch of salt. :|

Do you live in the Exchange buildings?

We all know on this forum to take renders with a pinch of salt. :|

Yup.

I'm sure I'll wait to see what they start putting up before I make up my mind, but I certainly hope they're closer to what was originally proposed. We'll probably get something completely different to anything we've seen yet mind!!

Oh please don't say that!!! :lol: Not another Thames and SGT.

Btw any sign of the vacant shop units underneath the Exchange buildings being let yet?

Oh please don't say that!!! :lol: Not another Thames and SGT.


Haha. If it's anything like SGT I'll be moving out! :gaah:

Btw any sign of the vacant shop units underneath the Exchange buildings being let yet?

No new developments really - every now and then you see some people knocking around the outlet on the corner of Wigston & Rutland St, but nothing confirmed. I can't really see anything new happening for a few months yet (difficult to secure funding atm obviously). But I'd say that within the year the whole space will be let and work should be underway on renovating 37-41 Rutland Street (planned 43-bed hotel).

Good to know that seedy nightclub building will be converted into a hotel soon. Those units have been vacant for years it seems. At least the LCB Depot is doing well. I wonder how their plans for a possible extension are going?

Good to know that seedy nightclub building will be converted into a hotel soon. Those units have been vacant for years it seems. At least the LCB Depot is doing well. I wonder how their plans for a possible extension are going?

The hotel isn't going to occupy the G-Spot club area - the hotel is from the first florr upwards and the club, I believe ah hem, is under the proposed hotel.

Yup.



I knew a Dr who lived in one of the penthouses in that building - infact it's from where you took that photo. What's happened to him?

The hotel isn't going to occupy the G-Spot club area - the hotel is from the first florr upwards and the club, I believe ah hem, is under the proposed hotel.


That's lame, I was hoping the hotel was gonna take up the entire building, the thought of having a place named 'G Spot' opposite something as magnificent as The Curve Theatre and Athena, in the heart of the Cultural Quarter with the Walk of Fame leading up to it, is quite ridiculous.

Is that club even open anyway? Both that and the snooker/pool place (I think there's a snooker sign on that building but I may be wrong), seem as though they've been out of use for years.

I knew a Dr who lived in one of the penthouses in that building - infact it's from where you took that photo. What's happened to him?


Not sure mate - what did he look like?


That's lame, I was hoping the hotel was gonna take up the entire building, the thought of having a place named 'G Spot' opposite something as magnificent as The Curve Theatre and Athena, in the heart of the Cultural Quarter with the Walk of Fame leading up to it, is quite ridiculous.

Is that club even open anyway? Both that and the snooker/pool place (I think there's a snooker sign on that building but I may be wrong), seem as though they've been out of use for years.


The snooker hall is still regularly used, but I'm pretty sure that will change as the proprieter will push ahead with the hotel development.

I know it seems ridiculous, but to be honest it's really not that bad (I'd just like to clarify that I have NOT been in there myeslf!) Personally I'd rather G-Spot be there than a rowdy nightclub where there are catfights spilling onto the street every Friday & Saturday night. A bit of seediness doesn't seem to do Soho any harm?

Anyways, 1 of 2 things will happen -
1) Its patrons will become more visible because of the profile of the area and will not frequent it as often due to the embarrassment. It'll relocate / close. (It was already rumoured to be moving to Highfields!)

2) With the increase in footfall around the area, more people will become curious about the place and business will boom! (Or, it will have to evolve into more of a bar-type place)

... Dr who lived in one of the penthouses in that building

Is it bigger on the inside than the outside?

So the strip-club will remain? Why do I get the feeling that businessmen will love staying at this hotel?

Is it a strip club? I thought it was a swinger's bar (how 70s! Bit like Leicester :tongue2:)

Once the 'Curve appeal' sets in then there will be no place for such venues in that area anyway. :D

[QUOTE=Ruts;23687394]Not sure mate - what did he look like?


Good looking, dark hair, not too tall - dated a mate of mine briefly, well for one night!

Is it bigger on the inside that the outside?

:lol:

Very interesting application for 2 hotels on St Margaret's Way/Vaughan Way (no details as yet):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20089231P

I assume this is where the gap is between Vaughan way and the Leicester Square development.

The architects are Franklin Ellis Architects and who were the same architects who did the Mercury building refurb - sounds promising then. :) Interestingly their profile includes work for Hilton Hampton hotels too.

Very interesting application for 2 hotels on St Margaret's Way/Vaughan Way (no details as yet):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20089231P

I assume this is where the gap is between Vaughan way and the Leicester Square development.

The architects are Franklin Ellis Architects and who were the same architects who did the Mercury building refurb - sounds promising then. :) Interestingly their profile includes work for Hilton Hampton hotels too.

The planning application has now disapeared!! Wonder why they removed it from the website :nuts:

Sounded good too!! :)

Yeah I noticed that too. It was only a temporary application application anyway. I remember something similar happening to another application and it later reappeared.

The change of use from snooker hall to hotel (Rutland Street) has been approved (above that seedy club):

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080728

Thats good news. If they do it up really nicely it would be an ideal location for all the visiting actors to stay. Also some ground level bars would be ideal for pre and post theatre drinks.

Agreed. It's also a fabulous building.

I hope the ground floor will also be sorted before it opens! :lol:...no seriously.

The proposed 15 storey hotel application for Yeoman Street has been withdrawn - again:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20080962

Would that be the one next to the Ale Wagon pub Leicity82?

Would that be the one next to the Ale Wagon pub Leicity82?

It's the one opposite 'The Shed' - where Houston's is. I'm kinda glad it's been withdrawn, seems such an odd location really for such a tall building. Mind you, they'll probably resubmit it and it'll creep up to 17 storeys this time!

Ah of course, sorry, completely muddled myself up there :D

It's the site behind the 'listed' Secular Hall, at the back of those flats and to the left of Rutland Street car park (where the army offices used to be) - see below pushpin.

Tbh I don't think it would have been allowed sue to it's close proximity to the Secular Hall.

http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/Hotel-1.jpg

Would that be the one next to the Ale Wagon pub Leicity82?

The Mercury claims today that the application has been submitted??? But there is nothing to show of this in the planning database. :?

Since when has the Days Inn hotel on Abbey Street become the 'Sky Plaza Hotel'?

http://www.skyplazahotel.com/www.skyplazahotel.coms/info.php?p=7

Looks quite nice actually from the pics on the website.

I notice there's no photo of the outside :lol:

Exactly!

If any of you have noticed the entrance has also changed location. The old entrance is now a shop and the new entrance is to the right of the old one.

The reviews are not too good either. :laugh:

The sign looks like one of those you'd find in a tacky Spanish resort!

I like that they still have the Days Inn sign still on the 'tower' element of the building. The place really is a dive, but to be fair, you get what you pay for!

Another pointless update on the 'Hampton Hotel' development on Charles St - scaffolding is starting to go up after a few weeks of very little site activity.

I wish that 'Days Inn' place would be demolished, it's awful :(

I like that they still have the Days Inn sign still on the 'tower' element of the building. The place really is a dive, but to be fair, you get what you pay for!

Another pointless update on the 'Hampton Hotel' development on Charles St - scaffolding is starting to go up after a few weeks of very little site activity.

Yes about time. That's at least one approved development getting under way. :|

From today's thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk (also in the Mercury):

No-frills' Hilton to open

Hotel giant Hilton plans to open a £7 million venue in the city centre.The development will see the former Norwich Union building, at the corner of Charles Street and Halford Street, turned into a 124-room Hampton by Hilton - the low-cost arm of the chain.

The eight-storey hotel will lie at the entrance to the cultural quarter and yards from Curve theatre.

Indi Johal, who owns the 1960s building, said refurbishment work had just begun, but could not say when it might open.

No-frills hotel brand Etap created nine jobs with the opening of a 73-room venue in Trunks Road, Birstall - its 13th hotel in the UK - a few days ago.

Business leaders welcomed the developments, but said the number of hotels in Leicestershire was still "inadequate".

Developers recently applied for permission to build a 15-storey hotel in Yeoman Street, Leicester, while the bright blue St George's Tower, near the city's train station, is being converted in part into a Premier Inn hotel with 135 beds.

Mr Johal owns the Charles Street building, as well as the building occupied by Hotel Maiyango, in Leicester's St Nicholas Place.

He said: "Hilton has preliminarily agreed to everything and now we are just tying up the legal side of things.

"The work started last week and all I can say at this point is that the hotel will open in the near future."

The development, which has been approved by the city council, is a revised version of plans given the go-ahead two years ago but not realised.

It will cost twice as much as the previous £3.5 million proposal and includes more than 20 extra rooms by adding a storey to an adjacent three-storey building in Charles Street.

The previous architect, Nottingham's Maber Associates, has been replaced with London's Penson, and changes have been made to the planned facade.

Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and former manager of Leicester's Ramada Jarvis hotel, said more hotels were needed to tackle a shortage in the county.

He said: "As the economy in the city grows in the long-term, having an adequate supply of hotel stock is essential.

"We're not able to meet that demand - it's growing and we need to recognise that, although there are a lot of hotels in the pipeline."

A spokesman for Accor, which owns Etap, as well as hotel chain Ibis, said Leicester was an "ideal" location.

He said: "We know the budget sector of the market is growing and we're confident this will continue."

A spokeswoman for Hilton would neither confirm or deny the plan as "no deal had been signed", but said it was "always looking for opportunities throughout the UK".

Source: Leicester Mercury
See: http://www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/News/Leicestershire/-No-frills--Hilton-to-open.aspx

The Penson design being this:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/00101_820071210173116.jpg

...and the previous Maber design being this one:
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x20/lecimage/NorHotel.jpg

Penson also have this on their website (I was wondering why work came to a sudden stop)...

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE
DUE DILIGENCE & DEVELOPMENT MONITORING

BACKGROUND
In addition to other hotels that we are working on in central Leicester, we are also providing development monitoring services for a new Hampton by Hilton. Early due diligence by us alerted the shell architect to a number of fundamental issues that needed attention to prevent future problems in terms of brand compliance & planning matters.


Does anybody know what other hotels that they're working on???

That's what I'm thinking. Could it be the soon-to-be built hotel on Welford Road (old Jemsox factory site)?

According to the Premier Inn website 2 hotels are opening in Leicester City Centre in January and in March 2009. One's in obviously in SGT, but where's the other?

http://www.premierinn.com/pti/newHotelOpenings.do

These are like, reptels*, right?

Shouldn't they be at Meridian Park, or something?


*Reptel: Conjugation of Rep (short for (sales) representative and hotel that I just made up.

These are like, reptels*, right?

Shouldn't they be at Meridian Park, or something?


*Reptel: Conjugation of Rep (short for (sales) representative and hotel that I just made up.

What do you mean?

Cheap and cheerless hotels for business people on the move. Like a Travelodge or Travel Inn or Holiday Inn Express. Often found on the side of motorways or on business parks. As opposed to a leisure hotel, boutique hotel, tourist hotel or luxury hotel.

"Reptel". Yes, that's a good word. Has a hint of the slimy salesman about it!:)

What do you mean?

What Binge said.

Cheap and cheerless hotels for business people on the move. Like a Travelodge or Travel Inn or Holiday Inn Express. Often found on the side of motorways or on business parks. As opposed to a leisure hotel, boutique hotel, tourist hotel or luxury hotel.

"Reptel". Yes, that's a good word. Has a hint of the slimy salesman about it!:)

What Binge said.

I see. ;) Premier Inn wouldn't have been my first choice hotel, but hey what do you expect with SGT. :ohno:

Ive come to change my mind about SGT now!!! I think it is a magnificent building - and ive even grown to like the colour - its really distinctive and modern!!! Definatley something we should be supporting - and proud of!! U may think Im drunk or something - but Im not - Honestly!!! :)

I suppose we'll all have to get used to it! :|

SGT is disgusting and quite frankly an embarassment. It only fuels, in my opinion, peoples misconceptions that Leicester is a grotty, tacky City.

I can only feel pity for the people who have grown to like it, you've all been sucked in ;)

I really hope it doesn't adversely affect plans for the office quarter phase II.

SGT is disgusting and quite frankly an embarassment. It only fuels, in my opinion, peoples misconceptions that Leicester is a grotty, tacky City.

I can only feel pity for the people who have grown to like it, you've all been sucked in ;)

Couldn't have put it better myself. A perfect example is a post that somebody made on the Facebook group saying that he overheard some 'chavs from Cov' saying 'At least you wouldn't see a blue building in Cov'.

Goes to show exactly what d4mo85 is saying about it adding to the negative perception issue that Leicester still has.

They're just jealous. Coventry is a complete and utter whole. Anyway, don't they have an Ikea in their centre?

Ive come to change my mind about SGT now!!! I think it is a magnificent building - and ive even grown to like the colour - its really distinctive and modern!!! Definatley something we should be supporting - and proud of!! U may think Im drunk or something - but Im not - Honestly!!! :)

The man is obviously on crack!

They're just jealous. Coventry is a complete and utter whole. Anyway, don't they have an Ikea in their centre?

All wholes are complete. If it wasn't it wouldn't be a whole :tongue2:

They're just jealous. Coventry is a complete and utter whole. Anyway, don't they have an Ikea in their centre?


Yes and it's blue!

The former Norwich Union building will be wrapped in a Leicester Christmas covering over the scaffolding:

http://rcweb.leicester.gov.uk/planning/onlinequery/Details.aspx?AppNo=20081844

Tha advert on Halford Street side will double up as a huge advent calendar.

http://www.oneleicester.com/one-great-christmas/giant-advent-calendar

From today's Mercury Business:

Regeneration 'sure to bring quality hotels to Leicester'

The high-end hotel operators Leicester needs will be attracted to the city, industry experts believe. For years, the city has struggled to attract four and five-star venues, but business leaders said the regeneration seen this year meant that was bound to change.

One veteran property consultant said the economic downturn may have delayed talks between developers and high-end operators but the city was still "heading in the right direction".

There are at least two sites with planning consent for a four or five-star hotel.

The development earmarked for land alongside the River Soar, near Bath Lane, includes a 39-storey, 200-bedroom five-star hotel.

A four-star hotel could be built in Welford Road, where there is planning approval to replace the Jemsox hosiery factory with 12-storey, 160-bedroom "boutique" accommodation.

Rick Moore, chairman of Leicester Shire Economic Partnership - a property consultant who advised on the Jemsox sale to a developer last year - said the property was available.

He said: "That is a potential site for what you might call a boutique hotel. Whether it becomes one or not is another matter, but we do need more of these niche hotels, and more of the four or five-star variety, rather than half a dozen more three-star hotels. If we can attract those types of operators then we can really say regeneration in the city is ticking the right boxes.

"With all the improvements that are going on in the city, we are heading in the direction of getting such a hotel. The credit crunch has skewed things but we will get there - though it might take longer."

John Nicholls, chief executive of Leicester Regeneration Company, said: "There is a shortage of top-end hotels.

"There really isn't much in the four-star bracket and above, and the city needs more.

"Although we already have several three-star hotels, I don't think it's necessarily detrimental to have more of them."

Another three-star venue is now on the cards at the former Norwich Union building, in Charles Street.

Hilton has given the city a vote of confidence with proposals for a £7 million venue at the gateway to the Cultural Quarter.

The owner of the building said it was being turned into a 124-room Hampton by Hilton - the low-cost arm of the chain.

Meanwhile, work to convert the first nine floors of St George's Tower, near the city's train station, into a Premier Inn hotel, with 135 beds, should be completed in the new year.

Source: Leicester Mercury
See: http://www.thisisbusiness-eastmidlands.co.uk/News/Leicestershire/Regeneration--sure-to-bring-quality-hotels-.aspx

Well I for one hope it will be based within the city centre if a Malmaison were to come to the city.

I do feel we should continue this discussion in the hotels thread.

If you insist! ;)

Sir_Robert - when you say 'on the outskirts', do you mean 'of the City Centre' or near the city's boundaries?

Possible locations for Malmaison? (totally depending on the size of the hotel they'd be looking to have in Leicester of course)!

Westbridge No. 1?
Old PoNaNa building?
Any of the, now vacant, Bank buildings?
Jemsox Factory Welford Rd?
Granby Halls?
Alexandra House - Rutland St?
37-43 Rutland Street?
Silver Arcade??!!!

I don't know - I'm sure there are a few if you think hard enough.