REVEALED: Major hotelier in Chesterfield Co-op move

An 89-bedroom hotel and a Beefeater restaurant will open at the Elder Way site next year in a move set to create 60 jobs.

Last year, Chesterfield Borough Council conditionally approved a planning application to convert the former Co-op building into a £20million hotel and leisure hub.

The application includes a budget hotel on the upper floor, six family restaurants on the ground floor and a health and fitness area in the basement.

Nicholas Johnston, acquisitions manager for Premier Inn, said: “We are delighted to be taking an 89-bedroom hotel and Beefeater restaurant as part of the forthcoming Elder Way development in Chesterfield.

“Chesterfield is an excellent location and, as well as attracting new visitors to the area, the new hotel will deliver fresh investment and create 60 new jobs for the local area.

“We look forward to opening our doors to customers in 2017.”

It will be the third Premier Inn in the Chesterfield area; the company already has hotels off Rother Way and in Eastmoor.

Premier Inn is Britain’s biggest hotel chain.

Central England Co-operative, which still owns the Elder Way site, is working with Jomast Developments Ltd to transform the landmark building – while still retaining many of its original features.

Adam Hearld, development director at Jomast Developments Ltd, said: “We now have a number of parties showing strong interest in being part of this exciting scheme and are delighted to confirm that Premier Inn and their Beefeater restaurant will be anchoring the development.”

Last month, Mr Hearld told the Derbyshire Times that building work is set to start ‘in the not-too-distant future’ and will take place over an 18-month period.

He added: “This is a hugely important and exciting opportunity to revitalise a significant landmark building and create a vibrant leisure destination in the heart of Chesterfield town centre.”

The prominent Co-op building has remained empty since the department store closed down in July 2013.