Premier Inn secures four hotel sites in Scotland

Budget hotel operator Premier Inn has announced it has secured sites for four new hotels in Scotland, adding nearly 400 bedrooms north of the border. 

The four new sites have been acquired as part of Whitbread's UK expansion plans for the value hotel brand as it looks to meet its target of operating 65,000 bedrooms by 2016, up from 52,000 today.

"Premier Inn is one of the UK’s leading brands and we are expanding rapidly as we respond to strong demand from our customers for more Premier Inn bedrooms in great locations," said John Bates, head of acquisitions UK and Ireland for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants.

Scotland

Set to create 150 jobs when they open, the four new Scottish hotels will be located on sites in Glasgow Pacific Quay, Perth, St Andrews and Stirling.

  • Glasgow, Pacific Quay: a six-storey, 180-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant opposite the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre. Due to open in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2014. 
  • Perth: an 83-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant on Mill Street. 
  • St Andrews: a 65-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant on Largo Road.
  • Stirling: a 60-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and Beefeater Grill restaurant at Forthside.

“We’re investing in projects right across Scotland and these latest deals add to the hotels we have recently opened in Glasgow and Ayr," said Bates.

"The proposed hotels at Perth, St Andrews, Stirling and Glasgow Pacific Quay highlight the flexibility and security we bring to projects, giving residents and local authorities the confidence they need that we are the right partner for them," he added.

Target locations

The UK branded budget hotel sector continues to grow strongly led by Premier Inn and Travelodge which is back in growth following a financial restructuring.

Whitbread, which last year opened the largest hotel under its Premier Inn brand, has recently revealed a target list of 250 towns it is hoping to open hotels in including Aberdeen, Blackpool, York and a large number of locations in London.