First new hotel built in Solihull for ten years opens near Touchwood

The first new build hotel in Solihull for more than a decade has opened following a £5.8 million investment.

Hotel and restaurant group Whitbread has launched a 115-bedroom Premier Inn on Station Road, opposite the Touchwood shopping centre, with the creation of 40 jobs.

The hotel chain, working with Job Centre Plus, ran a Sector Based Work Academy in Solihull which saw unemployed people get pre-employment training, a work experience placement and a job interview within the hospitality field.

Of the 80 applications that were made for the 16 places available in Solihull, 13 wanted to be interviewed by Whitbread, with five of the final applicants getting jobs in Whitbread restaurants.

Martin Hales, general manager of Premier Inn Solihull, said: “Premier Inn is proud to be the first new-build hotel to open in Solihull for over a decade.”