Brewers Fayre

Nov 9, 2023

Newly developed flood barriers on the site "did their job" during recent weather events Cork City's first Premier Inn at Morrison's Island is due to be handed over to its operator in two weeks time Picture: Dan Linehan Thu, 09 Nov, 2023 - 12:00 Catherine Shanahan      CORK City’s newest hotel, the €45m Premier Inn, is set to be handed over to its operators, the Whitbread Group, in less than two weeks time. The group is hoping to open the 187-bed Morrison’s Island hotel by the end of January next year. A Whitbread spokesperson described it as “a lovely scheme”. Mark Elliot, CEO of the Greenleaf Group who developed the site, said the project was completed “on time and within budget”, and was due to be handed over on November 21. The main contractors, the Cavan-based Elliot Group, carried out the building work over a 22-month period. The Greenleaf Group owns the 6,800 sq m building, which will be leased back by the Whitbread Group. Architects on the project were MDO Architects, Dublin. The development includes ground floor offices in one section of the hotel, as well as refurbished offices in Nos 11,12 and 13 Morrison’s Quay. Each of these buildings has been refurbished and 19th century façades protected. Each has own-door access. While Morrison’s Quay is prone to flooding and did so again recently, Mr Elliot said the flood barriers “did their job and prevented the building from flooding”. He said the biggest challenge at the site was not flood waters, but the restoration of the period buildings. These three buildings are at the centre of the riverside development, and are bookended to the north and south by a new four-to-five storey build, with further building to the west/rear of the development. Picture: Dan Linehan Customers of the new hotel, Cork’s first Premium Inn, should expect attractive room rates given it styles itself as a budget brand. Operators Whitbread already have three trading Premier Inn hotel in Dublin, at Swords, near the airport, and on South Great Georges Street and Gloucester Street in Dublin City centre. A spokesperson said that by the end of their financial year next February, “we will also have added new locations at The Liberties and North Docklands in Dublin City centre and Morrison’s Quay in Cork”. The brand already has more than 1,500 bedrooms open in Ireland and believe there is “network potential” for 3,500. More in this section