Portsmouth's new luxury hotel will help city's economy bounce back from Covid slump

LUXURY new offerings in Portsmouth’s leisure industry will kick-start the city’s economic recovery after the financial heartache of lockdown.
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That's the view of the Portsmouth’s culture boss, Steve Pitt, as he welcomed the news the city’s former Royal Marines Museum was to be converted into the island's first five-star hotel.

The ‘optimistic’ council chief was adamant the new high-end hotel in Eastney would attract rich visitors into Portsmouth – and help solidify its reputation as as ‘world-class’ coastal destination for top events.

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And he had high hopes the new luxury addition would work hand-in-glove with the city’s booming cruise industry, serving as a classy gateway for loaded tourists to relax before setting sail.

Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council.

Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council.

Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)
Cllr.Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Development and Deputy Leader of Portsmouth City Council. Picture: Sarah Standing (090320-9853)

Councillor Pitt said: ‘There is absolutely every reason for the city to be optimistic about the future.

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‘No-one can pretend that it hasn’t been a very difficult year this year and it may still be a pretty difficult year next year.

‘But I do sense there is optimism there. We have got a world-class offer here in Portsmouth that we should be extremely proud of.

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‘I think what we will see, with people choosing “staycations” rather than going abroad, is that more and more people take up that offer.'

Cllr Pitt said the Portsmouth had long dreamed of having a five-star hotel to rival those in Southampton and Winchester.

The decision to set up a lavish new hotel in Portsmouth, he said, was a huge vote of confidence in the city’s ability to bounce back after the coronavirus pandemic.

‘I’ve always been really clear on this: you don’t build five-star hotels and hope you have custom for them – you know that there is clientele is there,’ he said.

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‘So it’s very good news for the city that somebody has brought forward a proposal to try and deliver a five-star hotel here because it means that they think the local visitor economy needs that offer.’

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