The Wildes Hotel Group has announced that work has begun on its £5million project to transform a historic site on Chester’s Bridge Street into a five-star boutique hotel.

Set to open in late summer 2022, Wildes Chester will feature 18 unique bedrooms, a spa with rooftop pool overlooking the city and a destination restaurant and bar, which will include outdoor seating overlooking Eastgate Street on the historic Rows of Chester.

The Grade II listed building was developed in 1892 by architect Thomas M Lockwood and features huge fireplaces, stone windows and original beams. With the total cost of development estimated to cost more than £5million, the building will be sensitively refurbished to retain the period features, while introducing an interior design that takes influence from key venues in London and around the world.

The 18 guestrooms will all be totally unique with free-standing furnishings to allow the original building and its features to ‘breathe’. Each will house quirky elements such as a free-standing bathtub with skylight for guests to enjoy the night sky in style. One of the rooms will even feature its own four-seater cinema.

The first floor will be transformed into a luxurious and state-of-the-art spa with a relaxation area, nail bar and multiple treatment rooms. The roof of the hotel will be home to the rooftop pool, jacuzzi and terrace where guests can enjoy views across the city.

“I am thrilled that work has finally started on Wildes Chester, nearly four years after seeing the site for the first time,” says Paul Wildes, CEO of The Wildes Hotel Group. “Chester is currently alive with development as collective efforts are underway throughout the city to put Chester back on the map and as such, we are pouring our heart and soul into reviving this historic venue, creating a destination venue that is set to attract attention from far and wide.”

“We are honoured to be working on this exciting project with The Wildes Group in Chester, undoubtedly one of the most interesting projects going on in the region right now,” comments David Wheeler, Managing Director of Truman Design & Build. “The building itself is a hidden gem with plans to sympathetically transform it using many of the original features along with contemporary architecture and design that will make it a stand-out development for the city.”