BUILDING work has begun on a new £4 million hotel in Lisburn city centre.
The Haslem Hotel in Lisburn Square is due to open in spring with the creation of 75 new jobs.
The 52-bedroom hotel, which aims for a 4* rating, will be the first to open in the city centre.
The development includes a lobby bar and restaurant, residents' gym, conference room and an underground car park.
Beannchor, Northern Ireland’s largest hospitality group is behind the venture. The company also owns hotels including the Merchant and Bullitt hotels in Belfast; eight Little Wing Pizzerias and pubs including The Dirty Onion in Belfast.
Earlier this year, the group completed a £350,000 refurbishment of The National bar in Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
Konstruct Interiors is the main contractor for the project.
Managing director Martin Kernan, said: "This exciting new project is a great fit for our team; we look forward to working with Beannchor in the delivery of this new hotel for the City of Lisburn."
Lisburn Square was bought by UK property firm Marcol in 2015.
Nicky McCollum, development director of Lisburn Square, said: "We are delighted that construction of the Haslem Hotel has now started.
"Historically, Lisburn Square was regarded as a retail location but since Marcol took ownership in 2015, we have been working to re-position the scheme as a destination to eat, work, live and shop.
"The opening of Haslem will add to the eclectic mix of occupiers, with a number of other units within The Square also under negotiation."
