Multi-million pound hotel scheme for city (From South Wales Argus)

King of the Hill, Newport says...
2:03pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Let's hope this doesn't delay work on the City Spires and Friar's Walk developments.

I just hope it's (the town centre) not in the state it is now when the you-know-what takes place in 2010.

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Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire says...
2:07pm Fri 4 Jul 08

This is a pre-requisite for Friars Walk as it is amendments that have been requested by the prospective operator. I agree with you though.. let's get moving on both developments!

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Mr Bump., Newport West says...
2:20pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Another hotel for Newport.

Who the hell is going to want to come here after the golf weekend. I love the place, but i wouldn't want to visit it.

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Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire says...
2:30pm Fri 4 Jul 08

You wouldn't want to visit becuase you already live here! People that don't live in places like to go to them! When you realise this you will realise why hotels are needed.

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Mr Bump., Newport West says...
2:37pm Fri 4 Jul 08

What is there worth seeing in Newport? A glance at the tranporter bridge and an hour in Caerleon. That's really enough to fill all these hotels. Why don't they invest in something that will get used by local people?

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Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire says...
2:43pm Fri 4 Jul 08

You didn't read what I wrote did you? To you, these things are mundane and everyday, but not to people that don't live here! There used to be hotels above every pub for goodness sake! People just like going places they haven't been before!

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Steve., The Town says...
2:44pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Have to agree with Mr Bump. Too many hotels are being built with no real prospect of filling them after 2010 (unless they go to students). Why not build a swimming pool ? Maindee has closed and the new 'out of town' swimming facility is just that - out of town. Tourists could then have a leisurely swim after walking the course and it would be of some use to the residents of Newport City long after 2010.

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Steve., Newport says...
3:08pm Fri 4 Jul 08

There used to be hotels above every pub for goodness sake

And where are they now ? Closed, dilapidated, ruins because there was not the need for them. If Newport had a thriving hotel trade I would admit they needed more hotels but we have managed previously on the accommodation that the City has had over the last 5 - 10 years. The new hotels are on the bandwagon of the Ryder Cup. Unless the City development progresses we will also miss the opportunity for our businesses to profit from 2010 as well. Newport has long needed development - let's just hope it's not too late .

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Steve., Newport says...
3:09pm Fri 4 Jul 08

There used to be hotels above every pub for goodness sake

And where are they now ? Closed, dilapidated, ruins because there was not the need for them. If Newport had a thriving hotel trade I would admit they needed more hotels but we have managed previously on the accommodation that the City has had over the last 5 - 10 years. The new hotels are on the bandwagon of the Ryder Cup. Unless the City development progresses we will also miss the opportunity for our businesses to profit from 2010 as well. Newport has long needed development - let's just hope it's not too late .

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Owain Vaughan, Newport Monmouthshire says...
4:11pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Steve, with respect, are you an economist? Do you think the operator of this hotel is paying all this money to build a brand new (bigger) hotel just to be bankrupted after 2010?

These aren't just think-tank ideas, these are real companies spending real money. They are not idiots.

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King of the Hill, Newport says...
4:46pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Don't forget that whenever a sporting event or concert is held at the Millennium Stadium there are plenty of people who stay in Newport (the same will apply for Cardiff during the Ryder Cup).

It's not just Newport that needs to attract more visitors, it's the whole of the south east of Wales.

No offence, but there really isn't that much to stick around for in Newport and Cardiff (or surrounding towns) if you're a tourist.

So yes, there needs to be a lot more attractions built (how about a zoo and/or a major theme park?)

Is the LG factory site standing empty at all? This would make an excellent site for a visitor's attraction, with fantastic access by road.

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tim, Magor says...
5:02pm Fri 4 Jul 08

I met someone from Newcastle going to Rugby at Cardiff and they had stayed in Birmingham as everywhere round here was full.

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BOB, NEWPORT says...
5:25pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Mr Bump. wrote:
Another hotel for Newport. Who the hell is going to want to come here after the golf weekend. I love the place, but i wouldn't want to visit it.

There is already an over provsion of Hotels in Newport. I suspect its a little game build something as a hotel use it for the Ryder Cup then go back to the council saying there is not enogh demand and convert it into flats or an office block.

Its yet more bad planning as if we did not have enough of it already.

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dicov, kazakhstan says...
5:25pm Fri 4 Jul 08

I live abroad and I have shown photographs of Gwent to my colleagues. The Wye valley, the Usk valley, all the castles, Blaenafon, Caerwent, Caerleon, do I need to go on. Why are Newport people so cynical? I agree Cardiff has had all the investment(public money down the bay)IG failing etc.& I know the 'port is a bit of a dump but have some faith in your home town(sorry, city),still a town to me. Thank goodness we didn't have the barrage, that tide is phenominal, we should sell that as well.Be positive, Newport.

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BOB, nEWPORT says...
5:30pm Fri 4 Jul 08

King of the Hill wrote:
Don't forget that whenever a sporting event or concert is held at the Millennium Stadium there are plenty of people who stay in Newport (the same will apply for Cardiff during the Ryder Cup). It's not just Newport that needs to attract more visitors, it's the whole of the south east of Wales. No offence, but there really isn't that much to stick around for in Newport and Cardiff (or surrounding towns) if you're a tourist. So yes, there needs to be a lot more attractions built (how about a zoo and/or a major theme park?) Is the LG factory site standing empty at all? This would make an excellent site for a visitor's attraction, with fantastic access by road.

It's a por location for a Theme Park. Basic problem is to small a population. You need a catchhment area running into tens of millions to be viable. Its why a lot are located in the South Midlands.

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Dave on his soapbox, Casnewydd, Gwent says...
5:36pm Fri 4 Jul 08

....why is the univercity being built in the city centre? .... an ice rink or some other form of leisure attraction...a giant wheel etc would put Newport on the map.
The students that come to Newport come because of the quality and standing the uni has....not because the new campus will be next to the mud and dual caariageway....

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BOB, nEWPORT says...
5:38pm Fri 4 Jul 08

Steve. wrote:

There used to be hotels above every pub for goodness sake
And where are they now ? Closed, dilapidated, ruins because there was not the need for them. If Newport had a thriving hotel trade I would admit they needed more hotels but we have managed previously on the accommodation that the City has had over the last 5 - 10 years. The new hotels are on the bandwagon of the Ryder Cup. Unless the City development progresses we will also miss the opportunity for our businesses to profit from 2010 as well. Newport has long needed development - let's just hope it's not too late .

There is more then enough hotel provision in Newport already. Yes they get full if a couple of big events are on together but you dont build capacity to meed the odd peak like that.

Seems the developers are begining to realize that there are too many hotel rooms as the Ramada that was going to be built at Celtic Springs seems to have been quitely dropped. It was supposed to open in the Autumn of this year. Given they have not started on it that will not happen.

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Dood, newport says...
6:28pm Fri 4 Jul 08

How about some council estates instead

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Lisa, Newport says...
12:12pm Sat 5 Jul 08

How about another sculpture......... lol

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Joolzzzzz, Newsport says...
12:25pm Sat 5 Jul 08

How about more housing,jobs,better bus service,improve refuse collections,safer streets,more parks,youth centres,the list is endless why do we need another hotel just for one month in 2010 and after the event it will shut down and be another wasted building,left to rot.

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Simon, Newport says...
3:40pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Why don't the opponents to this just lie down on the site and refuse to move until they promise to take the Ryder cup elsewhere?

For crying out loud. Newport is about the only place in Britain where house prices are still rising thanks to this development. Most other unstarted redevelopment works around the world have been shelved... and people are short sighted enough to think that the hotels only serve the Ryder cup. Why would businesses invest millions of pounds for 2 weeks in 2010?! They wouldn't it doesn't make any sense to, so therefore, they see something that the locals clearly cannot... Perhaps people need to get their heads out of their little clouds and take a look around at the world and see potential...

Agreed improvements need to be made to Newport, but without investment, the improvements won't happen. so rather than bemoaning the hotel, we should be hoping that it spins enough cash into the city to bring us better infrastructure... BTW there's nothing wrong with the refuse collections, its the habits of the die hard non-recyclers that need sorting.. Walked down a road the other day to see empty recycling boxes and green bins stinking with recyclables that the residents are too lazy to wash and sort...

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Lyndon, Caerdydd says...
11:10pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Lets hope there aren't any potential investors reading these comments. They'll think Newport is full of mouth-breathing cretins.

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The_Master, says...
11:10pm Sat 5 Jul 08

Define how Visitors would want to come back to Newport when the witness the friendly scum fighting, smoking and Drinking outside 'The Cotton Club'

Define why we have a perfectly good Hotel 'Westgate' left derelict..

The reason we have Hotels is because a lot of Business types stay in places such as the Newport Lodge' and Family's and Visitors stay in the Etap as it's cheap £30 a night just of the motorway.. Coldra people stay for the golf

Newports town centres one remaining Hotel is surrounded by a few stinking pubs full of drugged up binge drinking thieves

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John, says...
10:20am Sun 6 Jul 08

BOB wrote:

King of the Hill wrote: Don't forget that whenever a sporting event or concert is held at the Millennium Stadium there are plenty of people who stay in Newport (the same will apply for Cardiff during the Ryder Cup). It's not just Newport that needs to attract more visitors, it's the whole of the south east of Wales. No offence, but there really isn't that much to stick around for in Newport and Cardiff (or surrounding towns) if you're a tourist. So yes, there needs to be a lot more attractions built (how about a zoo and/or a major theme park?) Is the LG factory site standing empty at all? This would make an excellent site for a visitor's attraction, with fantastic access by road.
It's a por location for a Theme Park. Basic problem is to small a population. You need a catchhment area running into tens of millions to be viable. Its why a lot are located in the South Midlands.

Alton towers isn't exactly in the middle of a city?

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cruiser, city says...
5:12pm Sun 6 Jul 08

After the golf all these new hotels will apply for and will be given a change of use approval by this council, or become derelict and suddenly catch fire.

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Dan, says...
10:26pm Sun 6 Jul 08

THE RYDER CUP LASTS 3 DAYS.

Not a month or two weeks but THREE days.

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Simon, Newport says...
12:12am Mon 7 Jul 08

Lyndon - why do you think the schemes are in jeaopardy at all? Courtesy of the ever-negative SWA bloggers...

As for how long the Ryder Cup lasts, 3 days for the tournament... You must add to that, set up and take down time, which is unsuprisingly longer than the tournament itself...

As for after 2010, I recall reading that there's an accommodation problem when there's an event in the Millennium stadium. So unless someone would like to share some unpublished news about Wales' centrepiece stadium, then we can bank on the hotels being financially viable for the foreseeable future, rather than descending into flames or rubble.

Then of course, we have the jobs that are created. Lets hope that the "job-snobs" don't leave them to the migrant workers as per usual.

Newport needs the boost thats coming with the Ryder cup, and if that boost is diverted due to the stifling negativity of the local populous... I hope they will stand up loud and proud after the event and tell everyone that they're proud of their acheivement...

Newport is at risk of being a "brain drain". I know a lot of well-educated locals who are just upping and leaving... If this continues, Newport's currently wide regarded status as a violent alcohol-fuelled city filled with ignoramuses will become a self-fulfilling prophecy, fuelled on by the fuddy-duddies who think that life experience is a suitable substitute for an education and move to quash and silence educated opinion with over-audible ignorance...

My only regret about the entire redevelopment is the failure to reincarnate the Westgate Hotel as a hotel. That place in its own right could form a tourist centrepiece, but for the yobs and shops that now litter its once glorious front steps and rooms...

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DG, Newport says...
1:36pm Mon 7 Jul 08

I think the new hotels will mainly be used for business rather than pleasure, actually. I know our company often has a helluva job finding a hotel with the right balance of affordability and quality - once the Celtic Manor annexe is fully booked, you struggle. Especially if there's a conference or similar going on.

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Lyndon, Caerdydd says...
3:01pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Simon. I was just pointing out how ridiculous many of the anti-hotel comments are. The hotel market in Newport is pitifully underdeveloped. There are a few strung out along the M4 but no major chains at all in the city centre.
If Newport wants to get some sort of economic benefit from visitors it has to get them closer to town than the Coldra.

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Gwent Rugby Supporter, Not Newport says...
4:09pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Whoops

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Mervyn James, says...
4:23pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Lyndon wrote:
Simon. I was just pointing out how ridiculous many of the anti-hotel comments are. The hotel market in Newport is pitifully underdeveloped. There are a few strung out along the M4 but no major chains at all in the city centre. If Newport wants to get some sort of economic benefit from visitors it has to get them closer to town than the Coldra.

Then what ?

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The_Master, says...
8:45pm Mon 7 Jul 08

Lyndon when they come to Newport they will see the Empty In Shops

The row of derelict buildings, and the rotting car park held up by scaffolding in John Frost Square..

And the least said about the Friendly scum outside places like Breeze and the Page the better

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Simon, Newport says...
9:24pm Mon 7 Jul 08

The_Master wrote:
Lyndon when they come to Newport they will see the Empty In Shops

The row of derelict buildings, and the rotting car park held up by scaffolding in John Frost Square..

And the least said about the Friendly scum outside places like Breeze and the Page the better

The rotting car park to which you refer is to be replaced by the scheme which this hotel forms a part. Breeze is also due to be gotten rid of too! However, your point is essentially correct, the least attractive thing about Newport is its residents and their yobby kids...

One would hope that a positive facade to the centre might spark some change in the local culture and attitudes, but given my experience of Newportonians, they will doggedly stick to their cider cans and glass each other in the back...

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King of the Hill, Newport says...
12:13pm Tue 8 Jul 08

I have to agree with the people who are tired of the sheer negativity of most Newport residents towards their own City.

I moved here from Brighton four years ago and I really don't think it's as bad as people say. There are some lovely parks, plenty of historical interest (Caerleon, Tredegar House, Belle Vue Park etc).

The Celtic Manor is impressive, to say the least. The Velodrome for cycling is highly regarded nationwide

There are plenty of other reasons why Newport SHOULD be looked upon favourably but it seems to bring out the worst in people. Yes, it has social problems but what City/town doesn't?!? Yes, the town centre is a mess but it's for the sake of progress. I had the misfortune of living in Reading 10 years ago and the transformation made in the town centre by a similar scheme was incredible.

Backtracking slightly on my previous comment, I think that Newport is an excellent base for visitors to stay. It's within easy reach of Cardiff and Bristol if you fancy a bigger City to explore, or you can hop on the train into the valleys. With the exception of London and a few other huge cities I don't think any visitor just stays in the same place in which they sleep every night.

So please people of Newport, STOP being so negative. It really isn't as bad as you think!

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The_Master, says...
3:52pm Tue 8 Jul 08

Well there's a big difference between attractions like Big Pit, Calazage's Gym, The Roman Ruins, Cini-world all of which I'm proud off.. And not to mention Cardiff and Cwmbran Town Centre's, and Spyttys and Cardiff roads out of town shops, as a few example..

Then we have Newport Town Centre whats supposed to been converted since 2002.. And the area round the market full of stinking dirty pubs, derelict Pubs, Maccie D's and various groups of Scumbags asking everyone for a pwound/fag... I have friends who own shops in the market and they said it's been terrible with the scum coming in trying to steal everything.. What about the man who was mugged outside the market in broad daylight recently..

Same as the Inshops that was supposed to be finished last October according to the staff..

When Newport starts loosing the pubs with there £1 drinks the scum will go, and starts opening shops like Debenhams etc..

Then Newport will have earned my respect..

One last thing the Cotton club loads of posters outside don't drink outside due to complaints from police shoppers and residents, I rest my case..

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King of the Hill, Newport says...
8:47pm Tue 8 Jul 08

Sigh Everytime I go into Cardiff I'm greeted by drunks and junkies as soon as I step out of the railway station. I then proceed to the main shopping area where there are also drunks and junkies milling around, just like in Newport. I get talking to friends who live in Cardiff and they have the same problems as we have in Newport: crime, anti-social behaviour, violent attacks. The only difference it seems is that they rise above the problems and don't dwell on the depressing side of the city. If you go around telling everyone that Newport is sh!t then they're going to a) avoid the place and b) think you're a miserable g!t.

The problem Newport has is that it's not spread out like Cardiff's shopping precinct, so there's a bottleneck effect where the scum and decent people (NEWSFLASH: there are a lot of decent people in Newport) have to mix.

Cardiff has plenty of McDonalds, plenty of pubs that offer £1 drinks (St Mary's street is the last place on earth any civilised person would want to be) and not forgetting the railway station that is heaving with 'scumbags asking everyone for a pound/fags'.

Have you visited the Newport Wetlands Centre? How about Belle Vue Park or even Tredegar Park (then visited the wonderful house nearby)? What about taking afternoon tea up at the Celtic Manor? All of these things are fantastic attractions and all of them are in Newport. Yes, Newport!!!!

So please people of Newport, STOP being so negative. It really isn't as bad as you think! Again

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The_Master, says...
12:39am Wed 9 Jul 08

If you read what I said, I referred to the area round the market being full of scum and the main part of town being largely decent.. I don't have a problem with Newport I have a problem with Newport town centre

I agree about Belle Vue Park, Tredegar Park but the owners of the Celtic Manor don't class it as being in Newport..

What I'm getting at is there's hardly any hotels in Newport centre really(does the kings count).. Westgate closed, the other one became walkabout.. The cinema's being turned into a budget hotel.. And you said yourself you can't see City Spire's happening..

Newport Council only seems to be interested in Pubs.. At least Cardiff has the good sense to keep the Pubs out of the main town centre, and to Saint Marys Street, and a decent Wetherspoons (Prince of Wales) unlike the two newport one's..

I've never witnessed any trouble in Cardiff.. Apart from a chav getting his head kicked in for pushing two skin heads in Liverpool shirts

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King of the Hill, Newport says...
9:36am Wed 9 Jul 08

The_Master,
I'm sure we ALL have a problem with the town centre, I completely agree. As I mentioned before, it's unfortunate that the main shopping area is basically one long and narrow road, so it's hard to avoid the undesirables. Hopefully the Friars Walk development will open out and create a lot more space so we won't notice the knuckle draggers so much!

Rome wasn't built in a day, but there are exciting developments taking place along the river and I'm more than positive that the Friar's Walk development will happen. Newport really isn't as depressed as a lot of other UK cities and is ideally placed between Bristol and Cardiff (Bristol especially being a very affluent city with decent salaries etc). There are more than enough people who fit the demographic in which the Friars Walk is aimed at and the only reason I go into Cardiff shopping is because I can't get it in Newport.

And with regards to witnessing trouble in Cardiff: I was working around the corner a couple of years back when that elderly woman was stabbed to death in the town centre in the middle of the say, a work colleague's best friend was beaten so severely that he ended up in a coma and eventually died, all because he was defending some yobs from smashing his car in. And there was that student who was beaten to death in Cardiff town centre last year

It seems that bad news is reported a lot more if it happens in Newport. Lazy journalism. BBC Wales is so Cardiff biased it's a joke. According to them, nothing bad EVER happens there!

Oh, and the Celtic Manor IS in Newport, not some made up mystical Usk valley ;)

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fatass, newport says...
1:22pm Thu 10 Jul 08

After the Ryder Cup, the council will use the lavish and expensive hotels as accomodation for drug users and people with asbos. out of sight out of mind.

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fatass, newport says...
1:25pm Thu 10 Jul 08

After the Ryder Cup, the council will use the lavish and expensive hotels as accomodation for drug users and people with asbos. out of sight out of mind.

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fatass, newport says...
1:28pm Thu 10 Jul 08

After the Ryder Cup, the council will use the lavish and expensive hotels as accomodation for drug users and people with asbos. out of sight out of mind.

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