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Blackpool Council and Muse Developments, development partners on Blackpool’s flagship Talbot Gateway regeneration project are delighted to announce that contracts are now signed with the hotel management company RBH, Holiday Inn and Black & White Hospitality (owner of Marco Pierre White’s restaurant chain) for the New Holiday Inn Blackpool Hotel.

The brand new four-star hotel, which is scheduled to open in Summer 2022, is part of a wider regeneration project for Blackpool including retail units and improved public transport links, with a new tram terminal, all within the Talbot Gateway central business district. Total investment in Phase Two Talbot Gateway is £34.6m. Holiday Inn Blackpool will boast 144 bedrooms as well as Marco’s New York Italian restaurant and create up to 50 new full time equivalent jobs. 

RBH is the UK’s leading independent hotel management company with an existing portfolio of 45 branded and independent hotels across the UK and already includes Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel. 

Andrew Robb, Chief Business Development Officer at RBH, said: “It has been great to work with the team at Blackpool Council over the past few years, seeing first-hand the passion and dedication they have for their town. As the flagship commercial development for Blackpool, Holiday Inn will form the centrepiece of the Talbot Gateway development’s second phase, transforming an important gateway to the town. We are delighted to be working with our partners at IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) on this project and can’t wait to get started.” 

Susan Bland, Managing Director at RBH, said: “We are thrilled to announce the continued growth of the RBH portfolio with the addition of Holiday Inn Blackpool. I am exceptionally proud that our track record in both development and operations proved instrumental in this appointment. Despite the challenges our industry is facing at the moment – which we are all navigating together – the fundamentals of hospitality remain unchanged in the long term, and we are looking to the future with excitement and positivity thanks to developments like this.”

Cllr Mark Smith Cabinet Member for Business Enterprise and Job Creation said, “Talbot Gateway continues to transform this key entrance into town and highlights the excellent commercial opportunities we have to offer. We’re delighted to welcome the Holiday Inn and Marco Pierre White brands to Blackpool and are confident that more internationally successful, recognised leisure businesses will follow in their wake. It raises the bar in terms of what people can come to expect from Blackpool’s leisure offer, providing a much needed boost to the year-round economy and creating sustainable long terms jobs for the local community.”

Marco’s New York Italian:

Inspired by his Italian heritage and love for New York, Marco’s New York Italian restaurant will reflect the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple as well as Marco’s passion for classic, simple, authentic food. Visitors to Blackpool will now be able to look forward to enjoying a mix of Italian-inspired dishes and American classics from a menu created personally by Marco himself while feeling they’ve been transported to the bistros and diners of New York.

Nick Taplin, Chairman and CEO of Black and White Hospitality added: “This New York Italian is perfect for Blackpool. It represents friendly, casual dining and will give locals and visitors a great new place to go out and eat. It’s not pretentious, it’s just good food, served in a great environment.”

“This is also fantastic news for Blackpool town as well as Black and White. The New York Italian fits perfectly with the Holiday Inn and we already have a number of hugely successful restaurants trading under this popular hotel brand. In these uncertain times it is good to look forward and plan such positive developments. Black and White Hospitality has a very strong portfolio and our business model of aligning the restaurant brands with hotels is one that has proved very successful in the UK as we approach our 50^th venue.”

The next phase of Blackpool’s town centre regeneration is set to get underway in the first week of June as contractors prepare to start on site at Talbot Gateway.

This phase of development will see the demolition of the existing Wilko store, the completion of the new tramway interchange at Blackpool North Station, a new underpass, a four-star Holiday Inn hotel and restaurant, and new retail outlets.

The start of the demolition marks Phase Two of the Talbot Gateway project in Blackpool’s Central Business District. The first phase saw the opening of Sainsbury’s supermarket and the development of offices, which now accommodates more than 1,000 public and private-sector employees.

Robertson Construction Group has been appointed jointly by Blackpool Council and development partner, Muse Developments to start work on Monday 1 June and will initially undertake the demolition of the Wilko store and car park, which ceased trading at the end of March. Demolition and construction work is expected to take around two years. 

Dirk Pittaway, Managing Director, Robertson North West, said: “Talbot Gateway’s regeneration continues to gather pace and as a growing business in the region we are thrilled to be playing our part. Robertson has significant experience in the hotels sector and we will use that to deliver a facility that is best in class and something everyone in Blackpool can be proud of. 

“We will work closely throughout with Blackpool Council and Muse Developments, who have both shown real commitment and drive in continuing to progress the project during recent months. Clear procedures, including social distancing, will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved on site.

“We will also put local people at the centre of the project to ensure the wider community can benefit. Indeed, we’ve already started to work with the local college, with the aim of providing real opportunities to people throughout the project and beyond. Talbot Gateway is hugely important to the town and we cannot wait to get started.” 

Proposed Schedule of Works: 

Demolition of Wilko’s building, Talbot Road – June to December 2020

Construction of the high street underpass – November 2020 to 30^th April 2021

Construction of the Holiday Inn Hotel – October 2020 to April 2022

Tram extension and track completion – January to May 2021

All timings are subject to there being no further delays due to the current Covid-19 crisis. 

Executive Leader of Blackpool Council, Cllr Simon Blackburn, said: “The team have been working tirelessly around the clock to ensure that the delivery of this flagship commercial development stays on course and goes ahead as planned. We are confident that all the correct procedures have been put in place to secure the health and safety of all the construction workers, which is our top priority at this critical time, and we will be monitoring activity on site very closely to ensure that all the government workplace guidelines are followed.  

“As we emerge out of the current emergency crisis and into a period of recovery and rebuilding, it is really important that as a community we stay committed and focused to the successful delivery of the ongoing regeneration projects throughout the town, to ensure the town is in the best possible place it can be to achieve economic recovery, improve long term resilience, create new opportunities and secure long-term jobs for the people of Blackpool. 

“Phase Two of Talbot Gateway will transform this key entrance into Blackpool and we are delighted to be one step closer to realising our long term ambitions for the town.” 

Blackpool Council and urban regenerator, Muse Developments have been working in partnership to develop the Central Business District since entering into a Development Agreement in March 2009. 

Mike Horner, Development Director at Muse Developments, said: “This is currently an unprecedented time for everyone across the country, which is creating new challenges for developers and contractors to maintain construction activity while working within government guidelines. We’re completely focused on this challenge with health and safety at the top of our agenda. At the same time, we’re also working with our partners to make sure we continue to bring forward important developments that will bring both economic and social prosperity to our towns and cities when it’s needed most. 

“It’s a proud moment for everyone involved at Talbot Gateway, as we take the next step on the journey to transform and re-energise the town centre, by delivering a new landmark hotel and high-quality brand to strengthen the hotel offering in the town. We will also be creating a number of much-needed jobs in the process.

“The renaissance of Blackpool is gathering apace and we’re delighted to be playing an important role with the Council in delivering this vision and making Blackpool a more attractive, more resilient and better place for the future, whatever that may look like.”

Blackpool Council has entered into a franchise agreement with International Hotel Group (IHG) for the 144-bedroom Holiday Inn, which is due to open in 2022, creating up to 50 full-time jobs. 

Cllr Blackburn continued: “This next phase of the development will offer brand new retail locations, an improved leisure offer to boost the night-time economy, offer more high-quality accommodation choice for leisure and business visitors alike and promote a more integrated and connected use of our transport system.  We hope that all residents, businesses and visitors can enjoy and benefit from the radical improvements being made not just at Talbot Gateway, but right across the town.”

The next phase of the regeneration of Blackpool town centre could be underway within weeks.

A proposal will go before Blackpool Council’s Executive on March 23 for funding that will facilitate the demolition of the existing Wilko store as well as the completion of the new tramway interchange at Blackpool North Station, a new underpass, four-star Holiday Inn and restaurant, and new retail and leisure facilities.

Wilko is due to close its store at the end of March and, subject to the Executive agreeing a revised budget of £34.6m, demolition is due to start on site within weeks. The revised budget reflects inflationary increases in the construction programme and additional works including more rooms in the hotel.

Blackpool Council has entered into a franchise agreement with International Hotel Group (IHG) for the 144-bedroom Holiday Inn, which is due to open in 2022, creating up to 50 full-time jobs. 

The scheme marks Phase Two of the Talbot Gateway project in Blackpool’s Central Business District. The first phase saw the opening of Sainsbury’s supermarket and the development of offices which now accommodate more than 1,000 public and private sector employees.

Blackpool Council and Muse Developments have been working in partnership to develop the Central Business District since entering into a Development Agreement in March 2009. 

Mike Horner, Development Director at Muse Developments, said: “It’s a proud moment for everyone involved at Talbot Gateway, as we take the next step on the journey to transform the town centre, by bringing in a new hotel and high-quality brand to strengthen the hotel offering in the town. We will also be creating a number of much-needed jobs in the process.

“Blackpool is going through a renaissance at the moment, with partners driving in the same direction to bring a real sense of vibrancy and place to the whole town, and we’re delighted to be playing an important role in delivering this vision and making Blackpool a better place to live, work and relax.”

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Leader of Blackpool Council said, “As the flagship commercial development for Blackpool, Phase Two of Talbot Gateway continues to transform an important entrance to the town, and highlights the excellent commercial opportunities that this town has to offer. We are delighted to welcome The Holiday Inn brand to Blackpool, and are confident that more internationally successful, recognised brands will follow in their wake.

“This next phase of the development will offer brand new retail locations, an improved leisure offer to boost the night-time economy, offer more high-quality accommodation choice for leisure and business visitors alike and promote a more integrated and connected use of our transport system.  We hope that all residents, businesses and visitors can enjoy and benefit from the radical improvements being made not just at Talbot Gateway, but right across the town.”