Vision of Leeds city centre Arena Quarter scheme revealed as GMI Construction appointed

GMI Construction has been appointed to deliver the regeneration scheme on the former site of the Merrion Hotel in Leeds city centre.

A new CGI has been unveiled to show how the development will look once work at the scheme – a key part of the city’s Arena Quarter - has been completed.

Town Centre Securities (TCS), owner of the Merrion Centre, of which the hotel and restaurant forms part, has franchise agreements for the Ibis Styles hotel with AccorHotels, and Black & White Hospitality, which owns the Marco’s New York Italian brand.

Leeds-born celebrity chef Marco Pierre White will open his first-ever restaurant in Leeds as part of the development. The 4,000 sq ft Marco’s New York Italian will be located on the ground floor of a new two-storey extension which will front onto Wade Lane.

The development will include new frontage to existing retail units - that are open for business as usual throughout the duration of the development - and new cladding and glazing on the exterior of the 134-room Ibis Styles hotel.

The hotel, which will feature a Yorkshire-themed reception area, and Marco’s New York Italian are set to be completed in spring 2017.

Edward Ziff, chief executive and chairman of Town Centre Securities, said: “GMI Construction is a long standing partner of Town Centre Securities and we are delighted to have appointed the company to work on this visionary scheme.

“Work is progressing on schedule and we are confident that Marco Pierre White’s first restaurant in Leeds and the Ibis Styles hotel will not only be welcome but extremely popular additions to the city.”

Mr Ziff added: “The Merrion Centre is in the heart of Leeds’s Arena Quarter which is rapidly becoming a popular destination with restaurants, bars and the first direct Arena and we are very excited to add a top restaurant and hotel to the offering.”

The hotel and restaurant will both be managed by Interstate on behalf of TCS, which will retain the ownership of both properties.

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