Newport's long-delayed Mercure Hotel might not open until next year

Newport could be set to wait even longer for the opening of its newest hotel, with developers saying it could be next year before it officially opens its doors.

The 150-bed Mercure Hotel was announced in July 2018 as part of a £12 million redevelopment of the city's tallest building, Chartist Tower. The 15-floor hotel includes 150 bedrooms, a restaurant with 65 covers and a fitness suite, while the tower development also includes 30,000 sq ft of office space and 18,000 sq ft of retail space.

Read more about all the exciting projects that are transforming Newport city centre here.

But the hotel has been hit by a series of delays since construction began. Originally due to open in April 2020, the opening of the hotel was delayed by developers Garrison Barclay Estates (GBE) due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In January the developers announced that the hotel's progress had been put on hold "for the next 4-6 months."

Chartist Tower in Newport, which is undergoing a multi-million pound redevelopment (Mark Lewis)

And now a spokesperson for GBE has confirmed that while much of the construction has finished, it could be October or even next year before it opens, subject to when funding can be agreed.

"Work is continuing on the hotel, shops and offices but with a very small team," they said.

"90 bedrooms are close completion, with many furnished. The rest are at decoration stage, reception and restaurant designs are now approved by Accor to Mercure standards, and Interstate Hotels are being contracted to manage the hotel for the next ten years."

But they warned that "current market conditions for a new hotel opening are extremely difficult to predict" due to the pandemic.

"We could be ready for October if the support from Development Bank of Wales and Newport council is agreed quickly. If not, it’s likely to be some time next year," they added.

A spokesperson for the French multinational company Accor, which operates the Mercure Hotel brand, confirmed that work was underway on the hotel but that the opening had been delayed.

A handful of businesses have already moved into parts of the Chartist Tower, including Triple Two Coffee.