Accor has struck a deal to bring its Ibis and Novotel brands to an AHR Architects-designed hotel scheme within the £260m NewcastleGateshead Quays regeneration project.

The new dual-branded hotel scheme will form part of a major mixed-use revamp of Gateshead’s waterfront. Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2021, with an anticipated opening date of 2024.

Contributing to wider regeneration efforts

Through an agreement with Gateshead Council, development partner Ask Real Estate and independent investment manager Patrizia (Ask:Patrizia), Accor’s Ibis and Novotel brands will both gain a foothold on the quayside of this ambitious 587,000 sq ft development.

The AHR Architects-designed hotel will span 172,000 sq ft and be managed by Vine Hotels on behalf of the local authority. Sir Robert McAlpine has been appointed to deliver the scheme.

Philip Lassman, VP development of Accor Northern Europe, said: “Our dual-branded hotel is a fantastic prospect for Gateshead and Newcastle. It will be the first Ibis-branded hotel in the area and this will be just our second new-look Novotel concept hotel in the UK. The new development will not only be a feat in terms of creating a cohesion to the whole quayside location but it will also bring a significant amount of new investment to the area, including job creation.

“We are working closely with Ask:Patrizia and Gateshead Council to deliver a high-quality development, which will bring significant economic benefit, providing domestic and international visitors with a superb city centre location. By bringing both the Novotel and ibis brands to the city, we are catering for anyone visiting the area, no matter what their budget.”

Attracting new visitors to the area

The 14-storey dual-branded hotel scheme will consist of a 187-room Novotel property and 140-room Ibis hotel. The Novotel hotel will feature the brand’s newest design concept, with facilities including meeting rooms, a gym and a restaurant overlooking Newcastle and the River Tyne. The Ibis hotel, meanwhile, promises to incorporate a vibrant public space and lounge.

The hotels will be developed adjacent to the forthcoming 12,500-capacity Arena, Conference and Exhibition Centre, which is to be operated by ASM Global. Architectural practice HOK has come up with the overall masterplan for the site.

Daniel Williams, head of development for Patrizia UK and Ireland, said: “Our purpose at Patrizia is to build communities and sustainable futures. We are confident that with the arrival of this new dual-branded hotel, Gateshead will receive a real boost in terms of visitor numbers. Now that we have planning permission, we are very much focused on making a swift start onsite.”

Richard Candey, partner within the hospitality team at Cushman & Wakefield, who advised Ask:Patrizia and the council throughout the hotel brand and operator selection process, added: “The award of the hotel contract followed a rigorous and highly competitive selection process, managed by Cushman & Wakefield, with incredibly strong responses from global hoteliers and management companies.”

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