WORK has begun on a new £5 million boutique hotel, restaurant and spa in Chester city centre.
The Wildes Hotel Group has confirmed work has begun on the transformation of the historic site on Bridge Street, with ambitions to be the second 5* hotel in the city.
Set to open in late summer 2022, the hotel will feature 18 unique bedrooms, a spa with rooftop pool overlooking the city and a destination restaurant and bar, which will include outdoor seating overlooking Eastgate Street on the historic Rows of Chester.
What one of the bedrooms will look like inside the £5m new hotel in Chester city centre.
The Grade II-listed building was developed in 1892 by architect Thomas M Lockwood and features huge fireplaces, stone windows and original beams. With the total cost of development estimated to cost more than £5 million, the building will be sensitively refurbished to retain the period features, while introducing an interior design that takes influence from key venues in London and around the world.
The news comes after The Wildes Hotel Group last week revealed plans to open a new private members club with bar, casino and gym, 'W', also due to open in summer 2022.
A look at what the spa will look like inside the new £5m Wildes Chester hotel.
Paul Wildes, CEO of The Wildes Hotel Group, said: “I am thrilled that work has finally started on Wildes Chester, nearly four years after seeing the site for the first time.
"Chester is currently alive with development as collective efforts are under way throughout the City to put Chester back on the map and as such, we are pouring our heart and soul into reviving this historic venue, creating a destination venue that is set to attract attention from far and wide.
“We are fiercely aware that the work we are carrying out may cause some day-to-day disruption but we’re working closely with our contractors Truman, local residents and the council to keep this to a minimum.
“I’m committed to creating amazing places for the people of Chester to enjoy and now with work under way on the hotel and confirmation of our lease on Booth Mansion, further down Watergate Street, for our members club ‘W’, we’re excited to be bringing some of the most talked about destinations to Chester city centre in 2022.”
A look at what a private dining room will look like inside the new £5m Wildes Chester hotel.
The 18 bedrooms will all be unique with free-standing furnishings to allow the original building and its features to ‘breathe’. Each will house quirky elements such as a free-standing bathtub with skylight for guests to enjoy the night sky in style. One of the rooms will even feature its own four-seater cinema.
The first floor will see a luxurious and state-of-the-art spa featuring relaxation area, nail bar and multiple treatment rooms. The roof of the hotel will be home to the rooftop pool, jacuzzi and terrace where guests can enjoy spectacular views across the city.
A look at what the lobby will be like.
Managing director of Truman Design & Build, David Wheeler, added: “We are honoured to be working on this exciting project with The Wildes Group in Chester, undoubtedly one of the most interesting projects going on in the region right now.
"The building itself is a hidden gem with plans to sympathetically transform it using many of the original features along with contemporary architecture and design that will make it a stand-out development for the city. We are very excited to be involved and look forward to working alongside the Wildes team over the coming months to deliver a fantastic product.”
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