New hotel and restaurant set for Newbury

Premier Inn has completed a deal to develop an 80-bedroom hotel and Beefeater Grill restaurant at Faraday Plaza

A NEW hotel and restaurant looks set for Newbury after a deal was completed for part of the proposed mixed-use Faraday Plaza development.

Premier Inn has completed a deal with Faraday Development Ltd to develop an 80-bedroom hotel and Beefeater Grill restaurant in Newbury, creating about 40 jobs in the area.

Director at Faraday Development, Duncan Crook, said the deal was an important step for the proposed scheme, which is designed to create approximately 600 jobs with about £50m being invested in developing the site.

Mr Crook said: “Discussions with the local community about Faraday Plaza have been extremely positive and our plans are widely supported in the area.

“Premier Inn is a great brand and the hotel will be a real asset for Newbury and the Thames Valley by providing good quality accommodation at an affordable price.”

Acquisition manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, Guy Kemsley, said: “We are excited about our new plans for bringing Premier Inn to Newbury. Faraday Plaza is an outstanding development and an exciting regeneration project for the Thames Valley. It's good news for Premier Inn that we're part of it and good news for our customers.”

Outline planning consent for a hotel at Faraday Plaza has already been granted, while a detailed planning application is being prepared, which if approved, could see Premier Inn start construction in 2012 with a view to opening in 2013.