EasyHotel opens five new sites, agrees to buy Blackpool site

EasyHotel announced on Monday that it has opened five new sites and conditionally acquired a 999-year lease on a site in Blackpool.

The company has opened owned hotels in Leeds, Sheffield and Barcelona, and two franchised hotels in Reading and Belfast, taking the total number of owned rooms open to 1,130, with a further 1,938 franchise rooms now open.

EasyHotel said all five hotels are trading strongly and in line with management's expectations.

The group has also conditionally agreed to buy a site at 429 The Promenade, Blackpool, to develop a purpose-built 103-room EasyHotel, subject to planning permission. The site is situated less than 500 metres from Blackpool South Station, in the heart of the seaside resort.

Chief executive officer Guy Parsons said: "The five hotels that we have recently opened have traded strongly from day one and we are delighted with the positive customer reaction to our stylish new brand format.

"I am also pleased to announce our intention to open an EasyHotel in Blackpool, Britain's most famous seaside resort. Blackpool is a prosperous and lively city and is hugely popular with UK and international visitors. Once open, EasyHotel will make a major contribution to the local hospitality trade. Our super-budget offer will enable visitors to have affordable, comfortable, stylish accommodation at the heart of Britain's seaside culture and keep money in their purses and wallets to spend on local attractions."

At 1320 BST, the shares were down 2.7% to 101.20p.