Construction Begins on New Hotel Complex at Worcestershire Cricket Ground

Construction work has started on the new 120-bedroom Premier Inn hotel and restaurant at the New Road ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club.

The comprehensive redevelopment also includes new conference and executive suites for the club.

The construction programme has been timed to minimise disruption to the 2013 cricket season. The new club suites are expected to be complete by early June and the new Premier Inn hotel and restaurant is scheduled to open in late October 2013.

Whitbread, Premier Inn’s parent company, is investing £7.5m in the new hotel and restaurant and Worcestershire Country Cricket Club is investing in excess of £3m in the new facilities. The two developments will create more than 45 new jobs when they open next year.

John Bates, Head of Acquisitions for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, said: “Premier Inn customers expect high-quality, low cost bedrooms in the best locations across the country. Our new Worcester Premier Inn offers just that and it’s a great example of how flexible we can be to secure the right site.

“Premier Inn is one of the fastest growing companies in the UK today. Before Christmas we will open new Premier Inn hotels and restaurants at Leamington Spa, Solihull and Walsall Town Centre – quality developments that will boost our presence across the Midlands even further. Our Worcester Premier Inn will follow close behind, adding another excellent location for our customers, creating jobs and helping to support the local Worcester economy. I can’t wait to get the hotel built and start promoting Worcester as a great place to visit and do business.”

There are currently more than 49,000 Premier Inn bedrooms across the country today and Whitbread is on track to deliver its target of 65,000 Premier Inn bedrooms by 2016.

David Leatherdale, Chief Executive of Worcestershire County Cricket Club, said: “Like all sports clubs we have to look carefully at our resources to safeguard the future of our club. The new Premier Inn hotel and executive suites will continue to develop our ground into a 365-day venue, attracting additional visitors to the ground and diversifying the club’s finances. This can only help to improve our performance on the pitch and we aim to be up and running in time for the start of our T20 campaign in late June and to welcome Australia in the lead up to their 2013 Ashes campaign.

“We will be working with contractor Gilbert Ash who have been appointed to build both the Premier Inn hotel and restaurant and executive suites to minimise disruption during the early part of the 2013 season.”