Delayed opening of Lincoln's Premier Inn sees staff sent to work elsewhere

Hotel staff have been sent to work at other premises after the opening of Lincoln's new Premier Inn in Broadgate was delayed.

The £6.5 million development was due to open on Valentine's Day.

But construction of the 130-bedroom hotel stalled when the building firm, Speymill Contracts Limited, went into administration.

And while a new contractor is appointed, up to 50 members of staff who secured jobs at the premises are being sent to work elsewhere.

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Whitbread PLC, which owns the Premier Inn brand, said a new completion date had not been set.

A spokesman said: "We are very disappointed that due to circumstances beyond our control the opening of Premier Inn Lincoln City Centre has been delayed.

"The delay is to allow the developer, Seven Capital Hotels, to appoint a new contractor to complete the works.

"Employees at the hotel have been retained by the business and are currently working within other local sites.

"Where absolutely necessary there are a small number of positions which we have had to delay the start dates for."

Bookings had been taken for the new hotel and bosses have said all customers will be able to stay in other Premier Inns. The nearest hotel to the Broadgate site is in Canwick Hill.

The spokesman added: "As a result of the delay we are ensuring that any customers who have made a booking are contacted and offered a choice to either re-book at another local Premier Inn, honouring the price they originally paid or cancel with a full refund.

"The booking system at the Lincoln city centre hotel was only live for a brief period of time so booking numbers were minimal.

"Our room prices vary in rate and can be purchased from £29 across all Premier Inn sites.

"It is with regret that we cannot confirm a completion date for the hotel at this time."

Work on the hotel, which is being built on the site of the former Save petrol station and O'Rourkes pub, started last February.

An initial opening date of February 11 was scrapped when it emerged the work would not be completed in time.

It was also announced the Premier Inn would be up and running by February 14.

April 8 was then publicised as the target date before the latest announcement.

Visit Lincoln Partnership manager Emma Tatlow said the delay was not of "great concern" to the tourism body.

"From our point of view it's a long-term benefit for Lincoln and in reality if it opens in February or May we're just pleased that such a big brand is coming to the city centre," she said.

"It's not a cause of great concern to us and we're still working with them on a fairly regular basis about what they will doing in the longer term."