Plans submitted for new Cathedral Quarter hotel

A former office building on Gordon Street in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter could be transformed into the area’s newest boutique hotel if recently submitted plans are approved.

The proposed development, led by Havana Trading No.4 Ltd, includes converting the former Labour Relations Agency site into a stylish hotel with a ground-floor extension, restaurant, bar, and outdoor courtyard. The company’s directors, Peter, Thomas, and James Jennings, are also linked to businesses associated with the Ducales Group, which recently opened The Foundry on nearby Hill Street.

According to supporting documents, “the design provides an extension and redevelopment that respects the site’s immediate context and that of this wider cultural, social, hospitality, leisure and commercial area.”

Developers aim to create “an attractive and sustainable place to stay, socialise and spend leisure time.” The project is expected to “further enhance the 24-hour economy of the Cathedral Quarter and Belfast city centre.”

The proposed site is surrounded by several established hospitality venues, including The Foundry, the luxury five-star Merchant Hotel, the budget-friendly Premier Inn on Waring Street, and the Ramada on Talbot Street.

Developers note that Belfast’s rising visitor numbers support additional hotel development in the area, stating that “there is potential for additional hotel development at this location to complement the variety of existing hotels that presently operate in the vicinity.”

Minimal structural changes are planned for the building’s exterior, with a “conservative, sustainable approach” guiding the design. “Minimal works/interventions are proposed to the building envelope,” the plans note.

“The proposal provides a considered regeneration of the site — the massing/form of the existing building will be retained for the most part, with only a minor rear extension at ground level,” the submission continues.

“The existing traditional form sits comfortably within the context of the street. The proposal remains reflective of the character of the area in terms of its design and scale.”