Hanley's £20m 140-room Hilton hotel gets ready to open

Fifty jobs are being created as Stoke-on-Trent's newest hotel gets ready to welcome its first guests. Hanley's £20 million Hilton Garden Inn, under construction on the Smithfield site, will be completed before the autumn. An opening date has yet to be set but bookings are expected to be taken shortly.

A recruitment drive for 50 staff attracted 3,500 applications with interviews due to get underway shortly.

Experienced hotelier Ben Carey, who will head the team as general manager, said: "It’s fantastic to be back on track following lockdown and we cannot wait to finally open to the doors to Hilton Garden Inn. The hotel will offer excellent amenities to the people of Stoke-on-Trent and its visitors.

"I’m looking forward to growing our team, as we prepare to welcome our first guests later this year."

Ben, who previously worked at The Village Hotel Manchester and The Royal Clifton Hotel and Spa in Southport, added: "We’ve had a fantastic response to our recruitment drive, seeing in excess of 3,500 applications, so our priority is now whittling them down and finding the right candidates to fill a range of roles.”

The hotel will boast 140 bedrooms, meeting and conference facilities and a fully-equipped gym. There will also be a stylish bar and restaurant offering locally-sourced produce.

It will be operated by RBH.

Chief business development officer Andrew Robb said: “This opening represents a landmark addition to our growing portfolio.

"We have worked with Hilton for a number of years, but this is our first Hilton Garden Inn. We look forward to seeing the hotel and its team thrive under their leadership following a challenging few months in the countdown to opening.”