The new Premier Inn will have 80 bedrooms and a Beefeater Restaurant linked to it, but it will also provide space for three more restaurant units. There will be a total of 17,000sq.ft of restaurant space across the four restaurants and the venture is expected to deliver a significant boost to the town’s economy.
Top name brands
Developers for the new scheme Peveril Securities will be putting the restaurant sites on the market in April and are looking to attract top name brands to occupy them. The units can be adjusted to accommodate interest from occupiers and range from around 2,750sq.ft upwards.
Managing director of Peveril Securities Ralph Jones said: “This scheme will be the first major leisure development in the town since the Leisure Park opposite was built in 2002 which, given Yeovil’s catchment population of around 125,000 is something of a surprise.
“We are therefore expecting strong interest in the restaurant units from some of the national restaurant chains as well as regional restaurant groups who know the potential for business in Yeovil and want to be part of an exciting town centre leisure scheme like this.”
The Premier Inn and Beefeater Grill will create around 50 new jobs between them and there is potential for a further 60 jobs to become available with the three additional restaurants.
Leisure hub
The site where the developments are taking place is the former Somerfield and YMCA building on Yeovil’s Middle Street which is located directly opposite Cineworld and MFA Bowling and Nuffield Health Club on the Yeo Leisure Park. It is also close to Pizza Hut and Frankie & Benny’s, so could enable a vibrant restaurant and leisure scene in this part of the town.
Acquisition manager for Premier Inn Richard Pearson said: “We are delighted to be bringing a brand new Premier Inn and Beefeater Grill to Yeovil. Our investment, which exceeds £5 million, will provide our customers with another great location, create 50 new Premier Inn jobs and underpin this important leisure development for the town. We are looking forward to a smooth and successful build and to opening our doors to customers as soon as possible.”
The new Premier Inn and Beefeater Grill are expected to open at the start of 2015, along with the new restaurant units.