14 Sept 2007

Photos by
Roy Owen

Victoria Dock

Gwynedd Council Chair Meinir Owen opened the first phase of the Victoria Dock complex this week along with Watkin Jones Director Mr Mark Watkin Jones.

Watkin Jones, the North Wales based company behind the £25m development in Doc Fictoria Caernarfon, today revealed details of the first commercial operators to be confirmed. This announcement comes alongside the official unveiling of part of the site. 

Mark Watkin Jones, Watkin Jones Group Managing Director said: “Following Gwynedd Council’s unanimous approval of plans to open a hotel as part of the Doc Fictoria scheme, it can now be confirmed that Whitbread Plc will occupy part of the ground floor of Block A (nearest the Dock) and the first and second floors as well as a small reception area on the ground floor of Block B (nearest Balaclava Road).

“The operation comprises a Brewer’s Fayre family pub restaurant in Block A and a 49 bedroom Premier Travel Inn hotel in Block B. It is expected to create 45 jobs, and this is clearly great news for the local workforce. We strongly believe that it will also complement the current provision of accommodation in the town, and will assist in attracting more visitors to stay and explore the area.

He added: “Whitbread is one of the UK’s leading hospitality companies, managing number one brands in the hotel and restaurant sectors. We are delighted that a company of this calibre has shown such faith in Doc Fictoria, but more importantly in Caernarfon.

“This symbolises a major step forward and demonstrates that developments such as Doc Fictoria can act as a catalyst for attracting inward investment and regenerating the local economy. We truly hope that the people of Caernarfon will embrace this opportunity and respond positively to all efforts to promote the town’s economic interests.

“Further announcements about other confirmed operators will be made in the next couple of weeks, and discussions will be initiated with the local business community to ensure that we take a collaborative approach in terms of how we promote the town in a way that will bring about benefits for the economy as a whole.”   

Scaffolding has now been removed from the commercial block facing the dock and the first residential block, and areas within the site are being cleared for public access. The existing sales and marketing suite on Balaclava Road will be moved inside the development and the first purchasers of the residential units should be moving in over the next few weeks. Invited guests and members of the public got a chance to view part of the development during the unveiling ceremony at Doc Victoria at 11am on Friday (14 September).       

Mark Watkin Jones said: "We are very excited about this phase in the development and although the entire development is not expected to be completed and occupied until the end of 2008, we want people to have a chance to see progress to date. There is an open invitation to anyone from the local community wanting to come along on the 14^th of September to see the initial unveiling and to celebrate this latest milestone."