Holiday Inn set to open in Oxford Road

Russells Construction has completed the 147 bed Holiday Inn Express on Oxford Road in Manchester city centre.

The contractor handed over the keys to general manager Jonathan Smith on 16 July, more than two months ahead of the hotel's official opening on Thursday 23 September.

Trafford-based Russells Construction commenced on the £9m contract in January last year, which involved demolition of an existing building on the site.

Andrew Russell, managing director of Russells Construction, said: "The hotel sector seems to have weathered the storm better than most. It is an area of our portfolio we have been keen to develop and Manchester is attracting a number of quality operators. We hope the Holiday Inn Express will be the first of many new hotel builds for Russells as we use the experience gained throughout this project to win future contracts in the sector."

The 12 storey building is owned by Holiday Inn Express franchisee Zinnia Hotels and is bordered by Oxford Road, Hulme Street, and the River Medlock.

A ground floor retail unit has been let to Spar for an undisclosed sum, which was an existing tenant of the original building on the site.

Russells Construction is a sister company of Property Alliance Group founded by Andrew and Gareth Russell in 1997.