A NEWLY renovated five star hotel is opening in West Cliff today, after a £27million investment.

The former Savoy hotel in West Cliff has been transformed into ‘The Nici’ and is being unveiled for the summer, following a £27m investment.

The Miami-inspired hotel features 73 bedrooms, including 10 garden suites with outdoor hot tubs, a vibrant bar and restaurant.

The site also has an extended outdoor terrace, meeting and event spaces and a garden and pool, with private poolside cabanas.

The hotel is family friendly with a 13-seat cinema room, alongside a children’s games room and an outdoor activities centre, offering surfboards, beach gear and games.

Bournemouth Echo:

Anthony Rudolph, creative director said: “For myself and Nick, the owner of this group, this hotel had an instant Miami feel to it, so that was a starting point for this property is that we wanted to take a South Beach Miami influence but with other elements globally to create what feels like a non-english resort that is suitable for the UK.

“We've gone through a series of refurbishments over the last year, we opened the first initial part in August last year but that was a very small portion of the hotel and that has traded under The Savoy for the last year.

“This week The Nici is launching, it's very exciting, it's been a labour of love and it's a difficult time to build at the moment, so we're really pleased with what we've managed to produce with all these challenges and following two years of lockdown.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Owner Nicolas Roach, chairman of the Nicolas James Group says the investment is much needed in Bournemouth.

He said: “We’re delighted that we’re opening the new Nici Hotel for Bournemouth, it is a hotel for the local people.

“Our total investment will be around £27 million by the time we've finished and we sincerely hope that this marks a turning point for quality investment in Bournemouth.

“We have everything in Bournemouth, great beaches, great climate and we’ve got great people and we hope that other people will follow suit and invest in this great place.”

Bournemouth Echo:

Looking towards the summer, Mr Roach hopes the hotel will have a busy opening season.

He said: “Bournemouth is a popular destination in the summer, we are number one on trip advisor in Bournemouth, so hopefully people will come and say hi.”

Around 400 supporters have been invited to the launch of the hotel.

There are also future plans for the introduction of a new 30-metre central outdoor pool and garden restaurant, followed by a spa and fitness centre, as well as a rooftop bar and restaurant.