Sanguine Hospitality Expands Its Hotel Portfolio

Sanguine Hospitality, the group owned by North West entrepreneurs Simon Matthew-Williams and Paul Bolton, has submitted plans for a new £20m boutique hotel in Newcastle city centre.

The 148-bed, four-star Hotel Indigo will be the developer's first venture into the North East and takes the group's portfolio to 12 properties since its launch in 2006.

Developed by Sanguine Hospitality, the hotel based on Fenkle Street will open in February 2011, creating 80 full and part time jobs.

Subject to approval by the city's planners, Hotel Indigo Newcastle will become only the fourth of its kind in the UK.

Paul Bolton, director at Sanguine Hospitality, said: "Hotel Indigo is a new approach to the market. It offers all the individuality and luxury of a boutique hotel with the added benefit of being backed by InterContinental Hotels Group global reservation system.

"This will be our second hotel opening in 2011, following the launch of Hotel Indigo Liverpool, and is part of our plan to continue to grow the brand nationally.

"With tourism worth over £1billion to Newcastle Gateshead and, despite one of the worst recessions in recent times, the city region attracted more than 18 million visitors last year. It is a very attractive place to be and we're confident it will be a big success in the city."

Hotel Indigo is InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) newest hotel brand. There are currently 27 hotels open in North America, with 59 more planned around the world.

The Hotel Indigo brand began its global roll-out in early 2009 with London Paddington and Glasgow. Hotel Indigo Liverpool is due to open in early 2011 and will also be operated by Sanguine Hospitality.