AS Bournemouth’s hotels start to emerge from the latest Covid lockdown, visitors should notice millions of pounds’ worth of difference. The eye-catching announcement of recent days was the news that the Savoy Hotel on the West Cliff had been bought by hotelier Nicolas Roach. The Christchurch-based chairman of the Nicolas James Group said the business had submitted plans for a £20milion redevelopment. Mr Roach, who built the Harbour Hotels brand, said the plan would create a five-star hotel with 100 bedrooms, as well as a spa and wellness club, rooftop and garden restaurants, alongside residential apartments. The news has gone down well in the industry.
The hotel, in Gervis Road, will undergo a £2million refurbishment, with the aim of opening for Easter. Nq2 Hospitality Limited will operate the hotel on behalf of the new venture. It comes less than 12 months after the Queens Hotel was taken over my Nq2 and became the Mercure Bournemouth Queens Hotel & Spa and joined the Accor group. Director Toby Barnes-Taylor MBE said: “ibis and Mercure work very well together and they loved what they saw (at the Mercure). “We went through it and the commercial side was the longest aspect but it was good to get it signed on Christmas Eve.
Bournemouth restaurants to dine with on Christmas day Make your Christmas extra special this year by booking for a festive feast in one of these Bournemouth restaurants. There s nothing quite like a full-on Christmas dinner but for many of us our homes will be a little quieter than usual which makes festive preparation this year a slightly different challenge. So why not take the stress out of the big day and leave the cooking to the professionals?
The Riverside, Belle Vue Road
Four courses £75.99 per person Enjoy amuse bouche on arrival followed by a specially curated three course meal to tantalise the taste buds.