A PROPERTY developer from Christchurch has acquired The Savoy Hotel on Bournemouth’s Westcliff with plans of investing £20m into the project.

Renowned UK hotelier and owner Nicolas Roach is on the move again with ambitions to deliver a five-star development in Bournemouth, as the first site for his latest brand.

Having built the UK’s leading luxury and lifestyle hotel group, Harbour Hotels, with its 15 hotels all in premium locations across the south of England, Roach now plans to deliver an entirely new five-star resort brand to spectacular stretches of coastline across the UK.

Nicolas Roach, Chairman of the Nicolas James Group, said: “We are delighted to have acquired The Savoy Hotel site and are committed to significant investment - with plans now formally submitted for a £20m redevelopment.”

Bournemouth Echo: The Savoy Hotel in Bournemouth

“For previous generations, Bournemouth was the prime coastal location. With phenomenal untapped potential, on one of Europe’s top beaches, it is time to bring back the golden era of Bournemouth’s hospitality and raise the game, starting on the Westcliff.

"As in other locations, our Group will invest heavily, much like we did in Southampton, transforming Ocean Village into a five-star destination.”

“As a local resident, I am looking forward to a luxury lifestyle resort on my doorstep, alongside other quality venues. I expect others will follow.”

Starting in Bournemouth, with more sites to follow, the exciting new mixed-use concept will offer a standout hotel resort, alongside proposed apartments, and will open next summer under a new brand, yet to be announced.

With a planned phased development, the hotel will undergo a soft refurbishment under its current name, The Savoy Hotel, opening for the 2021 summer season, helping to boost the re-opening of the local hospitality economy and, In turn, creating over 200 local jobs.

It will then close its doors for an extended period from September 2021, as it undergoes a full and extensive redevelopment and re-branding – with the new name to be unveiled in the coming months.

An iconic building overlooking Bournemouth beach, the proposed £20 million development will see the hotel and its gardens restored to their former glory, alongside new additions.

These will include a 100 bedroom, five-star standard hotel, featuring a state-of-the-art spa and wellness club, multiple food and beverage offerings, including new rooftop and garden restaurants, with outdoor terraces and landscaped gardens, as well as contemporary meetings and events facilities.

In addition, the planned development will provide a number of residential apartments, aimed at the active urbanites.

The project has received the backing of BCP Council, who welcome the development as part of their plans to rejuvenate the conurbation and identify the area as one of Britain's best seaside resorts.

Leader of BCP Council Councillor Drew Mellor said: "We are delighted to welcome operators of this quality to BCP.

"Our big plan is an ambitious vision to create a world class city region and this investment, from the Nicolas James Group, in Bournemouth is a great part of that journey.

Councillor Phillip Broadhead, Deputy Leader of BCP Council and Cabinet Member of Regeneration added: "This proposed £20m investment is great news for Bournemouth and indeed the whole BCP area.

"As a council, we are midway through a major piece of work, which is focused on using all levers available to massively lift the hotel quality across the resort. We have one of the best beaches in Europe and indeed the world and we need more world class hotels to match our world class destination."

"This is a stunning location, right on the cliff top overlooking our fantastic environment. To have a five-star iconic hotel here is precisely what we need - we look forward to working with the Nicolas James Group, who clearly have an impressive track record, as their plans develop."