New Thurso hotel to open in May, says company boss
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THE new multimillion-pound Premier Inn hotel in Thurso is due to open in May, according to a senior company manager.
Richard Aldread, the head of construction at Whitbread for the UK regions, said: "We're making good progress with construction of the new 85-bedroom hotel in Thurso, which will be our most northerly in the UK when it opens.
"At the moment, we’re on track to open the hotel in May, in good time for summer where we're expecting high demand for staycations and short breaks."
He said the natural beauty of the area and the popularity of the North Coast 500 should ensure the venture is a success.
"We predict the hotel will trade well across all four seasons and will provide a new style of accommodation to visitors," Mr Aldread said. "From experience, we also find that our 'light touch' offer supports the local economy as many of our customers go out to eat, drink, visit attractions, do activities, and generally enjoy the local area when they stay with us.
"The new Thurso Premier Inn is one of three new openings we have planned in Scotland this calendar year as we focus on growing our network in strategic high-demand locations across the country. It’s an exciting time for us."
Recruitment for staff is expected to start about two months before the opening of the hotel.
The Thurso development at the former mart site at Ormlie Road is part of a £55 million investment by Whitbread, the owner of the Premier chain, in Scotland.
Work on the Premier Inn got under way in July 2019 and was expected to take about a year to complete but was halted as a result of the coronavirus lockdown. It is hoped the hotel may be a catalyst for further development at the former nine-acre mart site which is owned by Pentland Properties. The hotel is being built by contractor Morrison Construction.
Whitbread received planning permission in November 2018 for a three-storey, 81-bed hotel and car park at the Thurso site. The development is expected to create around 30 jobs.
The company has over 800 hotels in the UK and around 20 in Germany.
