Ten Square investment brings new jobs
Belfast city centre hotel, Ten Square has announced plans for a 71-bedroom extension to its property on Linenhall Street and Donegall Square South.
The extension, which is subject to a change of use planning application for the office building next door, will bring a £3m investment and create more than 20 new jobs at the hotel.
A £1.5m refurbishment to the main building is also currently underway, after local property developer, Paddy Kearney, acquired the business in August.
Administrators had been appointed to Ten Square in January this year when the business went into receivership, and Dublin-based hotel group, Dalata, had been looking after the premises until its acquisition by Mr. Kearney.
The newly appointed general manager at the popular four-star venue, Stephen Perry, who is overseeing the hotel’s revamp, says that the current works at the hotel include a total refurbishment of the existing building including entirely new kitchens and a re-modelling of the front-of-house areas as well as a complete modernisation of every bedroom.
“Our popular events suite will also have an increased capacity for up to 250 guests and this will allow us to widen our reach for seminars, conferences and wedding bookings,” adds Stephen. “We are still very much open for business and we will have all works complete by November 7, well in advance of the busy Christmas season, so we’d ask our customers to bear with us during this period of transition.”
Stephen, who spent 10 years in the USA with the Hilton Hotels Group and who also has experience locally with Hastings Group and Titanic Belfast, adds: “The multimillion pound upgrade of this property will further enhance all aspects of our guests’ experience and will ensure that Ten Square will maintain its position as Belfast’s leading city centre hotel.”
Patrick Kearney, managing director of Ten Square’s new owner, Kilmona Holdings says that Ten Square has been a landmark in Belfast city centre for many years, but investment had become necessary because of growing tourist numbers and a more competitive hotel market:
“We now have an excellent management team in place and the ability and willingness to revamp and expand the hotel with at least a £5m capital programme over the next 12 months,” he goes on. “This first application to create a new bedroom block is just the start however, and we have even more ambitious plans to expand further which we will be revealing in the near future.”
Our picture shows Ten Square General Manager Stephen Perry and events manager Lucy Anderson checking out plans for the hotel’s £5m refurbishment.
