The owner of the company redeveloping Preston’s old Post Office into a luxury hotel says the project is progressing well, despite the impact of Covid-19.
Lawrence Kenwright of Signature Living says he is “so pleased” with how the renovation is going at the new multimillion pound Shankly Hotel, which is slated to open summer 2021.
To show progress, Mr Kenwright has revealed a video of the roof extension, plus some of the rooms that will feature in the £15m development of the Grade-II listed building.
The video demonstrates the views that will be available from the planned 7,000 sq ft rooftop bar and restaurant. A short distance away is the Sessions House tower and the top of the Harris, while St Walburge’s can be spotted in the distance.
Mr Kenwright’s Signature Living hospitality group bought the 118-year old building from Preston City Council in 2018 and is converting it into a 65-room hotel with bar, restaurant and wedding and events suite.
Delays in 2019 caused by the uncertainty around Brexit and additional issues relating to asbestos found within the building were followed by a temporary stop to work in 2020 because of the pandemic.
Activity resumed on site in June 2020 with a planned opening date of ‘towards the end of 2020’. Now the building’s new roof extension has been completed with interior works continuing at pace with several bedrooms nearing completion.
The project is a collaboration between Bill Shankly’s family and Signature Living to highlight and commemorate the footballer’s playing career at Preston North End.
Lawrence Kenwright said: “Despite the similarities in name and theme, The Shankly Hotel in Preston will have its own unique look and feel from that which we have created in Liverpool.
“Our Preston hotel, will have what I believe to be the most vibrant event space in the UK with Elysium, which will enable as many as 160 guests come for an event or party and at the end of the night up to 22 can stay in the accommodation beneath the event floor.
“We are very excited about this project, which represents the next evolution of our brand and we believe that it will help to supercharge Preston’s night-time offer and aid its destination status.
“I am so pleased with the progress of the renovation, because not only is this is a very challenging project, but also to complete the roof extension as we’ve done at this difficult and uncertain time is a reflection of our commitment to our plans and the city.”
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The Preston hotel will be similar to The Shankly Hotel in Liverpool which was the subject of a BBC1 primetime documentary series, The Grand Party Hotel in Autumn 2020.
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