The site is on the former premises of Elizabeth Hall Picture taken 2006 © Copyright Derek Harper and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.

Mayor to break ground £5m Exmouth hotel

The Mayor of Exmouth, Cllr John Humphreys is to ‘break the ground’ as work starts on the new £5m Premier Inn for Exmouth next Tuesday.

Cllr Humphreys will be joined in the cermony by New Openings Manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants Carly Wintle, for Whitbread PLC, to offically begin work on the construction of Exmouth’s new 60-bedroom Premier Inn, with cafe and conference facilities, which will open for business in spring 2015.

Initial work has already began on the site of the former Elizabeth Hall (pictured), after being sold by East Devon District Council to Whitbread PLC for £1.2m.

The funds from the sale have all been reinvested into the regeneration of Exmouth including the new toilets, which opened earlier this month, on Queen’s Drive as well as the planned improvements to Mamhead Slipway.

Cllr John Humphreys said: “The new seafront hotel will be a massive boost to the town providing additional visitor accommodation for the town and attracting new visitors which, in turn, will benefit many local businesses. I am delighted that work is now starting. I look forward to the hotel being completed and returning to open it early next year”.

John Bates, Head of Acquisitions for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants for the UK and Ireland, said: “We are excited to be starting work on our 60-bedroom Premier Inn in Exmouth. We will be working with contractor Vale Southern to build the new hotel quickly, safely and to the highest standard and it is expected to open in early 2015.

“Once completed, the new Premier Inn represents a £5 million investment in the local area and will create 25 new jobs. We look forward to playing our part in the wider Exmouth Vision regeneration plans and to contributing to a vibrant, attractive and successful seafront”.

Councillor Andrew Moulding, deputy leader of East Devon District Council and chairman of the Exmouth Regeneration Programme Board said: “This is yet another step towards our vision of establishing Exmouth as an attractive 21st century resort for visitors, businesses and local people to enjoy. The sale of the land has not only allowed the building of this prime seafront hotel but continues to be invested into other improvements to the Exmouth seafront”.

Earlier this week some preliminary tree works were carried out on the site to allow the contractors to start work. The purple hoardings surrounding the site will soon be displaying some informative Exmouth vision and Premier Inn banners to make the site as attractive as possible during construction.