Thistle Hotels is investing a total of £10.6 million in The Barbican hotel, formerly a Mount Charlotte property on the edge of London`s square mile. The 463-bedroom property in Central Street, EC1 is being converted from three- to four-star standard, prior to its relaunch as the Thistle City Barbican in May 2000.

To date, 241 of the hotel`s 463 bedrooms have been refurbished to the new Thistle brand standard. The upgrade of a further 105 bedrooms will be complete by the beginning of May and the remaining 117 rooms will be upgraded in 2001.

Work to upgrade the hotel`s public areas and conference and meeting rooms is underway. The lobby, reception, bar and restaurant areas are all benefiting from a complete transformation. The refurbishment programme will include the introduction of a full Co.MOTION brew shop, Thistle`s own counter service, deli-style cafe offering a wide range of sandwiches, pastries, beers, spirits and a selection of different coffee styles, as well as a VIP desk to ensure fast check-in and check-out for corporate clients.

By the end of April, all 13 conference and meeting rooms will have been completely renovated. Four rooms are being converted to Meeting Plan brand standard, complete with truwood tables, comfortable eight-hour chairs, cordless telephones, fax machines, natural daylight, ceiling mounted screens, refrigerators with soft drinks, adjustable lighting and air-conditioning.

And from September 2000, the hotel will offer full leisure facilities. Construction of a new health & leisure club in the basement of the hotel, complete with a swimming pool, spa pool, sauna, steam rooms, gymnasium, aerobics room and treatment rooms, is underway. The club, named “Otium”, Latin for a sanctuary of peace and leisure, will be available free of charge to hotel guests and a private membership for local residents will also be available.

The redevelopment also involves an extensive facelift of the building`s exterior; it is being re-clad with brickwork and marble panels and new `Thistle` signage will be erected at the beginning of May.

Says Sean Parrott, general manager, “The new Thistle City Barbican is conveniently located between Kings Cross and Liverpool Street, within easy reach of the financial district and close to rapidly developing Islington. The hotel refurbishment will have a significant impact on both our corporate and leisure customers in terms of the facilities and services offered”.

Thistle City Barbican, 120 Central Street, London, EC1V 8DS. Tel: 020 7956 6000.

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