WORK is set to start on the conversion of a former nightclub in Newport city centre into a Premier Inn.
The Whitbred-owned hotel chain, which has more than 660 hotels across the UK and Ireland, bought the former Delilahs building opposite the city’s railway station a number of years ago but since then nothing has happened.
Business Argus can now reveal that Newport-based developer Richard Hayward Properties has won the contract to redevelop the Grade II listed building into a 60-bedroom hotel and that work is due to start  in January 2014. About 100 people will be employed during the redevelopment of the building.
The new hotel, which is a prominent position within the city centre, close to the recently redeveloped market and just a short distance away from the new Admiral building, which when full will house more than 1,000 workers, is due to be open in time for Christmas 2014.
A spokesman for Premier Inn said the group was very much committed to the site.
David Jones, of Newport-based chartered surveyors Hutchings and Thomas, said: “The redevelopment of the building in its prime position opposite the city’s railway station and the main road in and out of the city is a positive sign along with the completion of Admiral’s new office block in the centre of the city that things really are motoring in Newport.
“This new hotel has the ability to inject fresh life into Newport underpinning its aim to offer 24-hour vitality into the city.  Let’s now hope that on the back of this there is renewed interest in the former King’s Hotel as there has already been some interest.
“It would be very welcome if the one scheme acted as a catalyst for the other and further rejuvenation projects in the city centre in 2014.
“It’s certainly seems to be a a positive note on which to end the year,” said Mr Jones.