Another hotel group checks out Inverness city centre

A HOTEL management and development company has revealed plans for another much-needed hotel in Inverness city centre where demand for tourist accommodation has soared.

Axcel Hospitality – whose portfolio includes Hilton, Marriott and Accor Hotels – hopes to transform a redundant four-storey office block at 83-97 Church Street into a 76-bedroom hotel.

The premises were previously occupied by the Department of Work and Pensions but became empty earlier this year when 120 staff moved to join their Jobcentre Plus colleagues in River House, Young Street.

The plans, which have been welcomed by business and civic leaders, come in the wake of recently-unveiled proposals by developer SRP to build a £20 million six-storey 210-bedroom hotel on the site of the two-storey Rose Street car park.

An ambitious project by the owners of the city’s Kingmills Hotel is also planned at the other end of Church Street to transform Bridge House into a 79-bedroom boutique hotel.

A design statement submitted on behalf of Axcel Hospitality maintains the Church Street location would be ideal for hotel accommodation due to its central position and proximity to the train and bus stations and many tourist attractions being within walking distance.

Full story in today's Courier.

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