BELFAST city centre boutique hotel Ten Square has completed the first phase of an £18 million multi-phase expansion to more than quadruple its bedroom numbers.
The Donegall Square hotel welcomed the first guests to the former Lancashire House office building next door on Linenhall Street, filling 18 bedrooms from a total of 55 in that block, which will be completed by the end of January.
The first phase refurbishment will also see the addition of the new Linenhall Business Centre with conferencing, function rooms and events space.
The multi-million pound expansion by owners Loughview Leisure Group has safeguarded 70 jobs and created more than 20 new posts at the hotel.
The hotel had previously been owned by businessman John Miskelly, but his company lost control of the hotel late last year when administrators EY moved in. It was subsequently bought by prominent property developer Paddy Kearney for around £6m.
The hotel will also see a second phase 66-bedroom expansion on the other side of the original hotel building into the former Scottish Amicable Building on Donegall Square.
Work on this second phase, which has already begun, will also include a spa and gym, and it will complete next October, bringing the total bedroom capacity at the hotel to over 140. A burrito bar will open on the ground floor of this section of the hotel in January.
Loughview's Stephen Carson, who is overseeing the revamp, said: “When we took over the hotel we immediately invested in a total refurbishment of the existing property – from entirely new kitchens to a re-modelling of our front of house, as well as a complete modernisation of every bedroom to provide guests with in-room smart technology and a fresh, new and classic modern décor.
“Last year’s refurbishment saw our events offering increase in capacity, but the newly created Linenhalll Business Centre will further allow us to widen our reach for seminars, meetings, conferences and wedding bookings.
Loughview Leisure Group finance director Chris Kearney said: “The multimillion pound upgrade of this property will further enhance all aspects of our guests’ experience and will ensure Ten Square will maintain its position as Belfast’s leading city centre hotel."
