New Cockermouth Premier Inn to create 170 jobs

Whitbread plc, the owner of leisure brands Costa Coffee and Premier Inn, is set to create 170 jobs after acquiring The Shepherds Hotel and Restaurant in Cockermouth, Cumbria.

Following the acquisition, Whitbread will redevelop the site into a Premier Inn hotel and Brewer’s Fayre restaurant, creating over 50 jobs for restaurant and hotel staff, a further 25 supply chain posts and another 68 in the construction sector.

The company has already received planning consent from Allerdale Council for the 80-bedroom hotel and 200-seater restaurant.

Commercial real estate firm Colliers International secured the sale on behalf of the previous owner of The Shepherds Hotel and Restaurant, Roy Campbell.

Neil Thomson, an associate director of hotels agency based at Colliers International’s office in Manchester, said of the deal: “Whitbread plc’s acquisition of The Shepherd’s Hotel and Restaurant is a vote of confidence for investment in Cockermouth and will help to meet a forecast rise in demand over the next decade for hotel accommodation and restaurant provision in and around the town which is a key tourist destination within the Lake District National Park.”

Construction work on the new Premier Inn, Brewer’s Fayre and associated parking facilities is set to get underway this month, with completion due in early 2017.

Premier Inn’s acquisition manager for the North West and Wales, Nick Johnston, commented: “Investing and regenerating existing hotel sites to offer great quality and value hotels is something we take great pride in – The Shepherd’s Hotel will be a great example of that.

“We are looking forward to coming to Cockermouth, creating new jobs, supporting the local economy and strengthening choice in the market.”

Speaking further, Colliers International’s Neil Thomson said the firm’s hotels team has experienced an increase in the number of private buyers snapping up small hotels and bed and breakfast firms across the Lake District.