Consent given for Marco Pierre White restaurant and Arena Quarter hotel

Town Centre Securities PLC (TCS) has secured planning permission for the development of a 134-room Ibis Styles Hotel and 4,000 sq ft Marco Pierre White restaurant at the heart of the Arena Quarter in Leeds.

Opening on the site of the former Merrion Hotel on Wade Lane, the building is to be transformed by TCS to create the new Ibis Styles Hotel for AccorHotels.

In addition, Marco’s New York Italian, a 90-cover restaurant will open on the hotel’s ground floor in December 2016, as part of a franchise agreement with Marco’s Black and White Hospitality business.

The design of Marco’s Italian restaurant is to be led by Hawkridge Design.

The hotel and restaurant will both be managed by Interstate on behalf of TCS, who will retain the ownership of both properties.

Commenting on the granting of planning permission from Leeds City Council, Edward Ziff, chairman and chief executive of Town Centre Securities PLC, said: “This is a landmark announcement for Leeds’ Arena Quarter. The Ibis Styles Hotel will provide stylish accommodation for visitors to the city. Furthermore, welcoming the world-renowned and Leeds-born Marco Pierre White for his first restaurant in the city is tremendous news and a sign of the appeal of the Arena Quarter as a location. His New York Italian brand will add something exciting to our dining offer, complementing the existing line-up of great brands.”

Nick Taplin, chief executive at Black and White Hospitality, added: “We are looking forward to starting work on this project, particularly because of the significance it holds for Marco with his debut site in Leeds. The Arena Quarter offered the perfect location for us in the heart of the city. Located next to the first direct arena, which has rapidly established itself as one of the most in-demand venues in the world, the Arena Quarter is Leeds’ most exciting leisure destination.”

The announcement is the latest phase in a programme of extensive investment by Town Centre Securities PLC in the Arena Quarter and Merrion Centre. Since the opening of the first direct arena in September 2013, Town Centre Securities PLC has invested over £15m in regenerating the area, including significantly upgrading the 960-space multi-storey car park.

The Arena Quarter’s dining offer has also been boosted by the addition of a number of new brands including My Thai, Bulgogi, pop-up Homage 2 Fromage, and the newly opened Smoke Barbeque.

In addition, TCS is developing the 170,000 sq ft New Merrion House, which Leeds City Council has confirmed it will occupy as its new headquarters, bringing its 2,200 staff under one roof for the first time.

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