Premier Inn opens at Cambridge City Centre

Whitbread has announced the opening of the new Premier Inn in Cambridge City Centre at the Lion Yard Shopping Centre.

Working with investment and asset manager Abrdn, the company has converted vacant office space above the prime shopping centre into a latest format 125-bedroom Premier Inn.

The opening is Whitbread’s first hotel in the centre of Cambridge and has created 31 new permanent roles.

Construction work commenced in March 2023 led by principal contractor Carter Lauren.

The hotel offers Premier Inn’s latest format ‘standard’ and enhanced Premier Plus bedrooms as well as an integrated restaurant space on the first floor.

Paul Smith, acquisitions manager at Whitbread, said: “I don’t know many hotel locations as good as the Cambridge City Centre Lion Yard Premier Inn. The hotel really is in the beating heart of the city, surrounded by beautiful heritage buildings, with all the attractions of the city centre a short walk away for our guests. It is one of the most unusual hotels in the Premier Inn network and I am sure it will become one of our customers’ favourites.

“We have been able to secure the location through our open minded approach to growing the Premier Inn estate. Working with Abrdn, on behalf of the owner, we were able to transform a redundant office space into a thriving hotel in an environmentally conscious way.”

Will Steward, project and programme manager at Whitbread, added: “Most of the original structure has been retained and we have improved the energy efficiency and acoustic performance of the building to bring it in line with our latest standards and what our customers expect of us.

“It is a special and sustainable development which is a testament to successful partnership working, our flexibility, and the skill and experience of the team in being able to transform an unused space into one Premier Inn will occupy for 25 or more years. I’m very proud to have been involved in the development.”