New hotel set to open in Derry

The grand unveiling of the 31 bedroom Bishop’s Gate Hotel is scheduled for Friday, March 4.

The new hotel, located at Bishop Street in the heart of Derry’s city centre, has been developed on the site of the former Northern Counties Club.

Its opening is seen as an important catalyst for the regeneration of upper Bishop Street and the city’s Cathedral Quarter.

The hotel development is regarded as a significant milestone project for the Inner City Buildings Preservation Trust - the dedicated arm of the Inner City Trust which specialises in historic buildings of the Walled City’s unique built heritage.

The project is in keeping with the overall ethos of the Inner City Trust to improve the physical, economic and social fabric of Derry’s inner city.

Funding for the project, which will create employment for more than 50 people, was secured primarily from Inner City Trust, DSD, Heritage Lottery Fund and Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

The new hotel was this week formally granted a licence to open for business.

Ciaran O’Neill, of LMCA Hotels Ltd., and Carl Peterson, architect, appeared at the local court to make the application for the hotel licence.

It’s understood the 31-bedroom hotel is currently awaiting the completion of a number bedrooms at its London Street entrance which are expected to be finished by March 15.

Mr O’Neill said that staff training was commencing this week for a seven week period.

He added that the hotel had been given a five star status by Expedia Booking.com

Judge Philip Babington said: ‘Hopefully, this will be a great asset to the city. The building has been lying derelict for some time.’