A COUNCIL has given the go-ahead for a former restaurant to be transformed into hotel rooms. 

Last summer, Premier Inn owner Whitbread announced it would be replacing 112 of its “lower-returning” restaurants with hotel rooms.

At the time, the hospitality giant, which also owns brands such as Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Table Table, revealed that a further 126 of its restaurants were to be sold over the next two years.

As part of this, plans were submitted to convert the vacant Hunsworth Brewers Fayre – associated with the Premier Inn Bradford South hotel at Cleckheaton – into rooms.

Supporting documents from the applicant explained that there is a demand for more “budget” hotel accommodation in the area.

Now, planning permission has been granted by Kirklees Council to allow an extension to the first floor to accommodate 20 extra bedrooms, plus the demolition of the dormers and miniature clock tower.

This will boost the number of hotel rooms across the site to 80.

There will still be a restaurant facility, though this will only be open to guests staying at the hotel, not members of the public.

The Bradford South site isn’t the only Premier Inn in Kirklees to see changes following the raft of recent restaurant closures.

Permission has already been granted to flatten The Aspley in Huddersfield and build hotel accommodation and a breakfast room in its place.