Boutique hotel is planned for Leigh (From Echo)
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Boutique hotel is planned for Leigh
1:00pm Monday 11th April 2011 in Business By John Geoghegan
The mock-Tudor building in Leigh
THE owners of an upmarket restaurant in Leigh Broadway want to create a nine-bed hotel next door.
Louise Waite-Sterry, who runs the Sand Bar, wants permission to create a “family boutique” hotel above the Nationwide building society.
Provisionally called the Sandhouse Hotel, it would be on the first and second floors of the three-storey building, at the junction with Alexandra Road.
A planning statement by Steven Kearney, of SK Architects on behalf of Ms Waite-Sterry, said the development would create extra jobs, including a manager, housekeepers and catering staff. He also states how it would contribute to the town’s economic growth.
He said: “Overall, the proposed change of use represents a visual improvement of the existing building and the provision of a much-needed and high-quality nine-bedroom hotel.
“The proposed Sandhouse Hotel will without question add to the already highly-successful Sand Bar and provide an additional economy and visitor attraction to Leigh.”
Mr Kearney goes on to say the hotel would be closely linked to the current restaurant, which would be the hotel’s “social hub” and the base for its meals.
External changes to the property would be “extremely limited”, with plans for two new dormer spaces in the roof, while each room would have en-suite facilities.
The main entrance to the hotel would be via the Sand Bar, with a second one in Alexandra Road.
The Sand Bar and Seafood Company has already taken over the lease of the upper floors of the pre-war mock-Tudor building, previously used by Nationwide.
Mr Kearney said the offices became vacant in 2008 and no takers have been found.
If approved and built, the Sandhouse would become Leigh’s only hotel, with the nearby Grand Hotel and the Bell, in Leigh Hill, both derelict.
Pat Holden, chairman of Leigh Town Council, said: “I haven’t looked at the plans in detail, but I hear the appearance of the building won’t change that much, which is good.
“We could certainly do with hotel rooms in Leigh. At the council, we often get people asking us if there is anywhere to stay. So in principle, it sounds a good idea. Parking is a bit of an issue, as it is in the whole of Leigh.”
She said the town council would look at the plans next Tuesday. Southend Council hopes to make a decision by May 4.
Comments(15)
el caballero de la noche
says...
2:36pm Mon 11 Apr 11
Andycal 172D
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2:39pm Mon 11 Apr 11
DannyK86
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3:34pm Mon 11 Apr 11
Andycal 172D wrote:I think the answer is 'nobody knows', but redeveloping the Grand or Bell would take a huge initial capital investment (hence why the developers of the Bell want to build the flats first).
Ah but what about the Grand (formerly) Hotel, the Carlton, etc if there is so much demand for hotel rooms in Leigh, why aren't these allowed to be developed?
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If these people at the Sandbar have the funds available and think they can make it work without building any flats, fair play to them I say.
stropmag
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4:01pm Mon 11 Apr 11
colsmith
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4:03pm Mon 11 Apr 11
The Cowboy
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4:06pm Mon 11 Apr 11
el caballero de la noche
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4:20pm Mon 11 Apr 11
colsmith wrote:Is someone having a laugh 'Nooky' in The Carlton ??
What the f**k is a boutique hotel. Do you intend to sell clothes from the foyer or bedroom? If it is what I think it is, please get your patrons to stand well away from the radiators as they will almost certainly melt...
Perhaps their Mum?
nitecard
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5:30pm Mon 11 Apr 11
BASILBRUSH
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6:54pm Mon 11 Apr 11
nitecard wrote:Perhaps if the lazy unemployed Brits that think the service industry is beneath them, got of their lazy behinds, then the 'Eastern Europeans' wouldn't find the opportunities to work in British bars and restaurants etc.
"Create more jobs", but from where? seeing as most of the Sandbar staff are eastern European, I think I can answer that one already....
Good luck to The Sandhouse Hotel.
I do hope someone is found to update and run The Grand though. Its a stunning building.
Barracuda
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8:48pm Mon 11 Apr 11
The GRAND and BELL proposals and now this. Hope all the Developers have money to burn. Just can't see any demand myself. Still might be wrong, perhaps the economic downturn has stopped everyone taking foreign holidays and they're all going to come to Leigh instead.
FatboyFive
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11:22pm Mon 11 Apr 11
DCLEIGH
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8:51am Tue 12 Apr 11
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I would love to know where any potential guests will be parking ?
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Will this be the first hotel in the country with a "Park & Ride" facility from Leigh Station Car park?!
The Cowboy
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11:00am Tue 12 Apr 11
DCLEIGH wrote:Is that such a bad idea though? A smart minibus ready and waiting for arriving guests to whisk them straight to the door, assistance with baggage etc. I see no problem with that. Get assigned parking spaces at leigh station and you're sorted. No need for the guests to drag their cars into the centre of town.
If you don't know what a boutique hotel is, worry not, they won't let YOU in. . I would love to know where any potential guests will be parking ? . Will this be the first hotel in the country with a "Park & Ride" facility from Leigh Station Car park?!
Dr Sloan
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1:43pm Tue 12 Apr 11
perini says...
2:30pm Mon 11 Apr 11