Colchester Travelodge look inside as hotel to open 'early 2024'

Colchester’s first Travelodge hotel is edging ever closer to its completion.

Work began on the £65million Northern Gateway site last March.

The Travelodge development, being completed by HG Construction, reached the hotel's highest point in November.

The new Travelodge coming to Colchester as part of the Northern Gateway project (Image: Newsquest)

Signs for the popular budget hotel chain have gone up in the past few weeks, with the interior shell of the building nearing completion, ready for fitting inside.

Bosses had initially hoped to open in December but are now hopeful the site will open in “early 2024”.

The Travelodge is edging ever closer to completion (Image: Newsquest)

As part of the ongoing construction, the Gazette was given an exclusive look inside the development.

A hallway on one of the floors inside (Image: Newsquest)

The hotel will boast 90 rooms over four floors, with a mix of double, family and accessible rooms.

A standard double room inside the Travelodge (Image: Newsquest)

The bathroom of a standard double room (Image: Newsquest)

The site will also feature Travelodge’s Bar Café restaurant, on-site parking and a pond outside the front of the complex.

A standard family room (Image: Newsquest)

The family room bathroom, which includes a bath (Image: Newsquest)

Travelodge already has 14 hotels across Essex, opening a site in Braintree last year.

An accessible room (Image: Newsquest)

The bathroom inside an accessible room (Image: Newsquest)

The new Colchester site will be the first one in the city, with the nearest site just off the A12 near Feering.

Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Travelodge spokesman Shakila Ahmed said Colchester is an “important” location, adding how the hotel company is looking to grow in the city even further.

The café area where the morning breakfast buffet will take place (Image: Newsquest)

She said: “We currently operate 14 hotels across Essex, so we have a good network across the county.

“Colchester is really important to us, as it is one of the oldest Roman towns in the UK, and the staycation desire is bigger than ever.

The bar area with reception in the background (Image: Newsquest)

“There are more people looking to come and visit Colchester, but at present there is a shortage of good value accommodation.

A view from one of the front hotel windows (Image: Newsquest)

“We know the demand is there and that is why this hotel is very important to us.

Outside the front of the hotel building (Image: Newsquest)

“On the back of that, we also know there are definitely more opportunities to grow in Colchester too."

Travelodge will also be opening recruitment for the hotel soon, including about 25 jobs varying from housekeeping and receptionists to bar and café staff.

Visit travelodge.co.uk/careers for more information.