Shrewsbury hotel to get new lease of life

A former hotel in Shrewsbury town centre will reopen next year following a £500,000 redevelopment project, its owner said today.

The Station Hotel in Castle Foregate has been empty for more than two years after its last use as Mediterranean restaurant Castelo.

But Stelios Kakkindiris, who bought it last year, said that he was planning to reopen the venue as a hotel in March or April next year.

A fish and chip shop will also open to the Chester Street side of the site.

Mr Kakkindiris said the whole project was set to create about eight jobs and will coincide with work being carried out to create a new garden terrace at the Eden Lounge which he also owns.

He said the hotel, which occupies a prominent position opposite Shrewsbury Railway Station, will be a boost to the tourist trade.

Mr Kakkindiris said: "There are no grand designs and we are not trying to make it a boutique hotel. It's going to be somewhere nice that offers value-for-money accommodation. There are 10 rooms all with en-suites and a fully licensed restaurant which will also be open to the general public.

"On the back entrance to Chester Street there will be a fast-food takeaway which will sell quality fish and chips."

Mr Kakkindiris said the hotel would retain its former name of The Station Hotel.