BID Spotlight: New life at Holiday Inn Leicester

Did you know that Leicester’s Holiday Inn was the FIRST ever Holiday Inn to open in the UK? Built back in 1969, the hotel remains a popular spot for those visiting Leicester and also for those looking for event space close to the city centre.

The hotel has recently undergone an interior refurbishment, with £560k spent on improving the reception, bar, lobby and gym areas, as well as bathrooms and meeting spaces.

The new touches to the public areas are also intended to encourage guests, as well as passing local to use the hotel’s bar and restaurant spaces.

We found out more for this week’s BID Spotlight feature.

Holiday Inn Leicester has been part of the city landscape for many years, but you’ve recently undergone a refurbishment. Can you tell us a little about the changes?

Holiday Inn Leicester has undertaken a refurbishment project to its reception, bar and lobby area, mini gym as well as its bathrooms and meeting spaces.

The work, which started in late 2023, included a complete décor refresh with new paint work throughout, following a botanical greenery theme with wood features and new carpets flowing through the lobby. Booths have been added to the restaurant, while the meeting rooms now have fully connected state-of-the-art 80-inch TVs for meeting presentations, with local artwork lining the walls.

The hotel’s 194 bedrooms and bathrooms have also received a refresh, with new shower screens in all bathrooms and a continuation of the rejuvenated paintwork.

The £560k modern makeover aims to create a more inviting space and encourage guests to use the public areas it has on offer.

The improvements are all part of an ongoing commitment to enhance our hotels, ensuring a consistent delivery of exceptional guest experiences.

How would you describe the hotel to any who’s never visited?

Holiday Inn Leicester is a modern and comfortable hotel situated in the heart of Leicester, Boasting a convenient location, it offers easy access to the city’s attractions, shopping centres, and business districts. We provides a welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, and all the amenities you need for a pleasant stay, whether you’re visiting for business or leisure.

What are some of the standout features of the hotel?

Holiday Inn Leicester was the first ever Holiday Inn opened in the UK. The hotel prides itself on providing excellent service, with friendly and attentive staff available to assist guests throughout their stay.

Can people visit to use the bar and restaurant if not staying as a guest?

Yes the bar and restaurant is open to all, we have a great cocktail menu too.

The Holiday Inn also hosts events throughout the year, tell us about the event spaces you have available?

Holiday Inn Leicester offers modern event spaces equipped with the latest technology, making it an ideal choice for meetings, conferences, and special events.

For those special events we can also offer self-catering hire Holiday Inn Leicester has been providing tailor-made events for all cultures for many years.. Our sophisticated event space, The Leicestershire Suite, offers a stylish backdrop for your self-catered celebrations. Accommodating up to 180 guests on round tables with a generous dance floor, this versatile venue is perfect for weddings, pre-weddings, and various self-catering events.

What makes the Holiday Inn an ideal location to host an event?

Exceptional customer service has been key to our success, so we are happy to help with any special requests you may have to ensure that your event is everything you want it to be.

What events is the hotel most suited to?

Our flexible space can accommodate an array of meetings and events, from business conferences, parties, proms, weddings. We also are licenced to host civil ceremonies. We can accommodate up to 300 guests for a reception or 180 for a sit down meal.

We’re coming up to wedding season. For anyone who may be looking at city centre locations, tell us about what packages you offer at the Holiday Inn?

We offer bespoke tailored made packages for all our guests, that can include catered or none catered events.