Work begins on Belfast’s newest hotel.

Owned by the Beannchor Group – the people behind the 5-star Merchant Hotel, the National Grande Café/sixty6, The Dirty Onion, Little Wing Pizzeria and over 50 pubs across Northern Ireland – the highly anticipated new hotel is scheduled to open in the second half of 2016.

The completion of the £4million development will create 100 new jobs. In addition to the positive socioeconomic impact of the business, the new hotel will assist in fulfilling the demand for additional hotel bedrooms in the city centre, which is expected to increase in 2016 alongside the Belfast Waterfront upgrade, particularly in terms of business tourism and conference delegates.

Drawing on nearly 40 years of expertise in the industry to create a new and vibrant hospitality concept for the city, Bullitt – named after the Steve McQueen movie of the same name – will be an exciting new addition to the city’s social scene when it opens next year.

Bullitt will epitomise urban chic with stylish, contemporary surroundings, alongside affordable room rates. Located in a prime city centre location, wrapping Victoria Street, Ann Street and Church Lane, the hotel is a stone’s throw from Belfast’s shopping mecca, Victoria Square and the lively Cathedral Quarter.

In addition to its 58 stylish mod-con clad bedrooms, the hotel will be a social hub for city workers, locals and tourists alike, bringing a fresh approach to work, rest and play.

By day, a welcoming open ground floor public space will provide a refreshing alternative for meetings, catch-ups, coffee and lunch. By night, the buzzing space will morph into a lively place to meet and mingle over cocktails and enjoy a meal in the innovative destination ground floor bar, restaurant and garden; right in the heart of the city.

Commenting on the announcement, Conall Wolsey, director, Beannchor said: “Our vision for Bullitt is to create a new and exciting hospitality concept to Belfast and Northern Ireland. This is much more than a hotel; it’s a space that will be relevant to the modern day lives of our customers; a space led by design, technology and efficiency, all in a friendly atmosphere, with the food, drinks and service that Beannchor is renowned for within the hospitality industry.

“Innovation is at the heart of all of our plans; from our coffee serves through to the food that will be created in our restaurant, we are aiming to challenge the status quo and break new ground.

“The life of the hotel will be the public ground floor space, which will feature a restaurant, bar, coffee shop and garden. We see this space being used day and night by a range of people, not just hotel guests. It will be a place where people can work, relax and socialise, within Belfast’s vibrant social scene in the heart of the city centre.

“For our 100 new members of staff that will be employed at Bullitt, this provides a unique and exciting opportunity to play a part in bringing this new concept to life.”