Starboard Hotels acquires 10th site with Holiday Inn Express Leeds

The deal for the leasehold was completed today, with the property acquired from Stellar Leeds. It takes Starboard’s UK-wide £50m portfolio to 10 hotels, including three sites in Yorkshire. It is also the group’s third Holiday Inn Express.

General manager Lisa Sutcliffe will remain in place along with the rest of the existing team, with the hotel continuing to trade as a Holiday Inn Express, operated by Starboard Hotels under franchise from IHG.

Built in 2006, the hotel is located in the city centre, close to Clarence Dock and the Leeds Armouries museum for which it is named. It has a bar and restaurant, along with three public meeting rooms, and Starboard is set to refurbish the site with a focus on technology, offering free Wi-Fi, in-room Smart TVs and bedroom flexible work spaces.

The site is expected to form a key part of the Leeds South Bank regeneration area.

Leisure property specialists Christie & Co acted on behalf of Stellar Leeds in the deal.

Paul Callingham, managing director of Starboard Hotels said: “This is a strategic acquisition for Starboard. We are delighted to be expanding further and welcome the Holiday Inn Express Leeds on board. It is a great hotel in a superb location and has an excellent reputation. Furthermore, the regeneration plans for the area mean our investment has come at exactly the right time.”

“We believe we can add significant value to the hotel offering in Leeds. This is a thriving city with a vibrant, unique mix of business and retail commerce [and] we are looking forward to working with the team to build a great future for the hotel.”

Owner and operator of franchised hotels including the Best Western, Holiday inn, Days Inn and Accor brands, Starboard also owns Holiday Inn Express hotels in Burnley and Greenock.

It also owns the Best Western Carlton Blackpool, Days Inn Wetherby and the Ibis hotels in Sheffield, Birmingham, Leicester, Plymouth and Gatwick, and now has 950 beds overall.