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Economic Development

New hotels needed as Plymouth pushes to become 'après sea' entertainment magnet

Waterfront city aims to build vibrant nightlife so visitors can have fun after a day spent on the water but needs more accommodation

Plymouth's waterfront

Plymouth is in need of new hotels including a “four-star-plus” establishment as it aims to become a major conferencing and music destination and market its “après sea” experience.

Tourist chiefs say that even though the city centre is gaining a new Premier hotel opposite the newly-opened Oyo location in New George Street, these sit at the budget end of the spectrum and more up-market venues are needed.

Amanda Lumley, and co-chair of the Great South West Tourism Partnership, said the Moxy hotel planned for Millbay is still expected to be built, and council chiefs are still in talks with developers about bringing a hotel to the derelict former Quality Hotel site on the Hoe.

There are also plans for a hotel in the Brunel Plaza revamp at the railway station, where work is now under way, and Mrs Lumley said new accommodation is paramount if Plymouth is to realise its vision of becoming a major draw for visitors.

Amanda Lumley, executive director of Destination Plymouth

She said investors are already eyeing the city, as witnessed by RBH’s move to take over the Duke of Cornwall, and said: “When the tourist sector starts to bounce back, if we have hotels ready in the next couple of years we will be able to take advantage of that growth. We are pushing for a four-star-plus now, where we have a gap in the market and it is important we fill that.”

She stressed that aside from the need for high-end operators, Plymouth’s hotel stock was stretched anyway, running at 80% occupancy pre-pandemic, and will have to deal with pent-up demand when Covid restrictions abate.

“We only have 2,000 serviced rooms in the city, Torquay has double that,” she said. “So we need this to grow our economy. I would like a four-star on the Quality Hotel site,” she said. “But it is a competitive commercial process and the council has to make sure it gets the best value for money

The city’sincludes a desire to prioritise “new hotels and conferencing facilities that create world-class quality and a distinctive offer including independent hotels and accommodation of character”.