Work underway on TAG’s 144-bed Chester hotel
Enabling work at the former Mecca Bingo site on Union Terrace is underway with the main construction phase due to begin next June.
TAG Developments has announced the start of work to clear the site to pave the way for the 144-bed Chester hotel. The bingo hall is being stripped out ahead of demolition work, which is due to begin next year.
A contractor for the main construction phase, due to conclude December 2027, is currently being procured.
Meanwhile, the conversion of Brookdale Place into 10,000 sq ft of serviced office space is due for completion by Q2 2026, according to TAG.
Cheshire West and Chester Council approved the seven-storey scheme in July 2024. TAG claims the development, designed by DAY Architectural, will increase the range of options available to some of Chester’s 14m annual tourists and boost the visitor economy.
Luke Averill, founder of TAG Developments, said: “This is a great day. All the hard work is now finally paying off, and we’re excited to begin transforming this historic building.
“We hope the redevelopment will bring new life to this key part of Chester, enhancing the gateway between the train station and the city centre.”
This is great news, the canal is really underused and has so much potential on this stretch. There needs to be a master plan for this area between Frodsham and Foregate Street to turn the area around and let it shine again while promoting Chesters unique character and history.
By GetItBuilt!
Given the significant lack of parking, I have a very real concern that if the business becomes unviable as a tourist hotel, it will be used to house migrants and the potential for serious social unrest as seen in other parts of the country……especially given its proximity to the bus and train stations
By David martin
Excellent news – I had assumed this would be another build that would never happen. Not sure it’s strictly needed in business terms (there are four empty / filled with homeless hotels on City Road, one turned to student barracks at the Fountains) but better that than another empty rotting building being targeted by vandals.
Re: GettitBuilt’s comment above – there’ll be no consideration for character, the council planners seem to love these vaguely East German blocks for Chester, witness the Shot Tower area / ‘Belong’ nightmare on City Road.
By John Smith
Is there no architects in Chester that can design an hotel?
By Michael Moose
Do we really need another hotel.When a few in city road have closed down.We need a good theatre.More for the kids to do
By Mr jones
David Martin is correct… This is not a hotel… It’s single room housing with communal areas… Just as they have done elsewhere… Manchester being rife with it.
Hotel after hotel after hotel… When in reality they will be converted to communal living apartments… The introduction of Burnham’s tourism tax is the beginning of the changeover of use, hotels will close, alternative uses found.
By Anonymous
The plan to build a huge hotel next to, and overshadowing, Black Diamond Park came to nothing. News is that the proposed new one in Frodsham Street has also flopped and a new business has just opened there.. so who knows for this place?
Other proposals for the site seem not to have been considered, such as social housing and ever a new city marina has been suggested (the canal environment has hugely improved over the last quarter century but the waterway itself is little-used compared with many other canalside places. Chester is missing out on a good visitor earner here..)
By Steve Howe