A new Premier Inn hotel has opened on the Skegness seafront for Nottingshire's holiday-makers.
The hotel, which comes with 80 rooms and has brought 60 new jobs to the seaside town, opened on Friday, April 26 after work began on the site back in April 2018.
It also comes with a restaurant, the Steamboat Cookhouse and Pub, however this is not due to open until May 1.
Lincolnshire Live recently took a look around the brand new hotel which has been built just off North Parade with expansive views of the North Sea.
Planning permission was granted back in September 2016 by East Lindsey District Council to the developer, KCS Developments.
A KFC drive-thru is also planned on the same site, but will not open for another six weeks, a spokesperson for parent company Whitbread said.
The restaurant, KFC and the hotel were all planned to open on the same day, Lincolnshire Live reported.
Marie Dukes-Brown, who coordinated the opening of the new Skegness Seafront Premier Inn and Cookhouse and Pub restaurant, said: “It’s a pleasure to open our brand new 80-bedroom Premier Inn hotel on Skegness Seafront.
“Premier Inn hotels in seaside locations like Skegness are very popular with our guests, and we’re looking forward to busy May bank holiday weekends and summer half-term week.
“An important part of the Premier Inn story is the local jobs we create as we grow.
“We have a fabulous new 60 strong team in place in Skegness, most of whom live in the town, and the team are all set to offer the friendly welcome and excellent service and standards we’re known for.
“We can’t wait to welcome our customers, meet our neighbours and start supporting the town long-term.”
The plans for the newly opened hotel came under fire from more than 5,000 people, who signed a petition in 2016 calling for the plans to be scapped.
The was primarily due to the impact people thought it would have on the Bed and Breakfasts which previously had views of the seafront.
One local hotel employee, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I really, really hope it won't affect us too much.
“We need the business in the summer months - but I still think there's an appeal to the smaller hotel or B&B.”
Helen Pask commented: “Blot on the landscape.
“Not the right place for a building like this, it should be away from the seafront.”
Other residents were happy about the new hotel, saying it would bring trade to the town.
Steve Lawrence said: “It doesn’t matter what it looks like, if it brings trade into the town.”
Wendy Roberts added: “A modern, clean, know what you’re getting hotel.
“I think it will do really well.”
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