Progress is being made on a new 144-bed hotel in the former Mecca Bingo building on Union Terrace.

Last July, Cheshire West and Chester Council approved plans to create a 144-bed hotel and restaurant in the former bingo site.

Its first stage of construction is currently underway. Enabling works will see the site cleared out and stripped ahead of demolition work, which is due to begin next year.

Developer TAG Chester has coined the "transformative" development 'Hotel Chester', which is set to provide "much-needed additional hotel accommodation" in the city.

The "mid-range" hotel is expected to create 80 jobs full-time jobs once operational. It will also feature a restaurant and bar.

The mock-Tudor building on Brookdale Place will also be converted into office space, to carry out "any operational or administrative functions".

Located on Brookdale Place, the site was formerly home to Mecca Bingo, bordered by Union Terrace and St Oswalds Way. Built in 1931, the existing building was originally the Gaumont Cinema before being later repurposed as a bingo hall in 1970.

A contractor for the main construction phase, which is due to finish in December 2027, has not yet been confirmed.

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TAG has claimed the seven-storey scheme, designed by DAY Architectural, will increase the range of options available to some of Chester's 14m annual tourists and boost the visitor economy.