A BRAND new 144-bedroom Ibis Red Hotel, built by Midas Construction, is now complete and set to welcome visitors and business travellers to Bridgwater.

The £11.8 million, four-storey hotel, built on behalf of Midas’s long-term customer Zeal Hotels, is located at Woodlands Court Business Park, with easy access to Hinkley Point C and close to the M5.

The new hotel represents a major investment in Bridgwater and will not only provide accommodation for the increasing number of visitors to the area, once Covid-19 restrictions allow, but for those travelling to the Somerset town for work purposes.

As well as conferencing facilities, the hotel features an onsite restaurant, Keepers Kitchen and Bar.

The finished project marks the successful completion of a second major scheme by Midas for Zeal Hotels following on from the construction of a Holiday Inn Express Hotel, also in Bridgwater, in 2019.

Steve Hart, divisional director at Midas Construction, said: “This new Ibis Hotel continues Midas’s strong track record in delivering major hotel developments for national and international brands.

“We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work again with the Zeal Hotels team and to be celebrating with them the successful and safe completion of this impressive scheme, carried out in the midst of what has been an extraordinary 12 months.

“It’s an achievement of which we are all incredibly proud and reflects the excellent working relationship developed with Zeal Hotels and the considerable efforts of our dedicated site team and supply chain.

“With the hospitality industry looking to reopen, alongside the rest of the country, in the months ahead, we are delighted to have had the opportunity to play our part in the exciting growth and economic development of the local area.”

Tim Wheeldon, managing director of Zeal Hotels, said: “We are pleased to open our new Ibis Hotel and Keepers Restaurant and Bar at Woodlands Court Business Park off J23 of the M5.

"This new Ibis hotel is the first ‘Ibis Plaza’ design hotel in the UK and offers quality accommodation for business and leisure guests.

"In addition, the Keepers Restaurant and Bar offers hotel guests and non-residents a ‘local’ restaurant specialising in local produce and when restrictions permit, live music.

“The restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic have been an enormous challenge, and I have been particularly impressed with how the Midas team have managed the construction and fit out process during this difficult time.

“The hotel is open for essential and key workers and as we hopefully come out of lockdown restrictions, we look forward to welcoming staycation and leisure guests to the South West.”