Belfast Hotel Opens £16m Extension

This weekend will see the first guests arrive at what is being billed as a 'New Chapter' in Northern Ireland's Merchant Hotel story.

The five star establishment, set in the heart of Belfast's Cathedral Quarter, will publicly reveal its £16m extension.

Incorporating a new luxury spa, decadent jazz bar, roof top garden, new conference and event facilities and a state-of-the-art gymnasium, the new extension also boasts 38 new bedrooms which are the largest guest rooms available in Belfast, each at a minimum of 42m². The New Chapter has created 80 new jobs across each area of the new building, bringing The Merchant’s total workforce to 250.

The expansive five star extension is part of The Merchant Hotel’s owner Bill Wolsey's long term vision for the ground-breaking property, built in 2006.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to see the New Chapter finally complete. This project has been a labour of love, having been in development for over four years with careful consideration afforded to absolutely every new element. The finish is absolutely spectacular and I am confident that we have created a landmark that the people of Belfast can continue to take pride in.

"The additional five star facilities will allow us to further grow our profile as an international standard bearer for Northern Ireland's hospitality industry. It is through the dedication of our excellent 250 strong team, who have worked extremely hard to help realise this dream, that we will continue to deliver the level of service that both our local and international guests have come to expect."

Exterior design for The Merchant Hotel's New Chapter was undertaken by local conservational architects Consarc, who were behind the original sympathetic refurbishment of the hotel, with interior design provided by O'Donnell O'Neill Design Associates.

(CD/KMcA)