A hotel operator has been found for the £120 million Guildhall development in Nottingham.

This major scheme will see the Grade II listed Nottingham Guildhall restored and redeveloped into a new offering.

Ascena will bring a 160-bed four-star hotel offering to the city which will include a rooftop fine dining restaurant, spa and wedding and conference facilities.

John Wilby, project lead for Ascena, said: "We are delighted that this scheme has taken a significant step forward. We will soon be submitting the development for planning and it is likely that all being well, that work will start on site in autumn 2020.

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"It is a landmark development for the city and a key destination for people across the East Midlands. The Guildhall is an amazing building and we are naturally delighted to be working the city council."

The company is working with heritage consultant Turley and Historic England on the project.

The existing courtrooms will be sympathetically converted to bar and restaurant facilities, retaining many of the original key listed features. There will be a rooftop bar and restaurant to the new build extension incorporating Fire Station House.

The Guildhall building itself will house the hotel, while more modern extensions at the back of the building would be demolished and rebuilt.

The remaining part of the site, including the old fire and police stations, are subject to a mixed-use redevelopment which will be announced soon.

This scheme will be submitted for detailed planning over the next few weeks, with construction work likely to begin in autumn 2020.

(CM/MH)