Plans for Port Royal: the money from the sale of Costa by Whitbread would be 'used to expand the Premier Inn chain'

Whitbread has just sold its coffee shops to Coca Cola:

Whitbread sells Costa Coffee to Coca-Cola for £3.9bn

But it's still holding onto its hotels and restaurants...

Chief executive Alison Brittain said Whitbread would now focus on its Premier Inn business in the UK and Germany. She said the money from the sale would be used to expand the Premier Inn chain, which includes restaurants:

Coca-Cola to buy Costa coffee for £3.9bn - BBC News

Premier Inn owner Whitbread to sell Costa coffee to Coca-Cola for £3.9bn | Hotel Owner

But that expansion has already begun...

QUALITY LOCATIONS IN EAST DEVON:

Back in 2014, Elizabeth Hall in Exmouth was sold by the District Council to Whitbread for £1.2m - to build a hotel:
Premier Inn work starts | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal 

In the same year, they set about building a hotel in Honiton - with the acquisition manager for Whitbread Hotels and Restaurants, saying "Honiton adds another quality location in the South West":
Premier Inn sets its sights on Honiton | Honiton, Axminster and Seaton news - Midweek Herald 
Honiton Premier Inn set for January opening | Honiton, Axminster and Seaton news - Midweek Herald
Premier Inn expansion continues - costar.co.uk 

And last year, up popped another in Seaton: 
New Premier Inn set for Seaton in East Devon - caterlyst
Photos show how Seaton Premier Inn is under construction - Devon Live

Meanwhile, in Sidmouth, a few issues have been raised:

WHITBREAD AGENTS IN EAST DEVON:

Last month, questions were asked about bids for the Drill Hall site:
Concerns raised over ‘conflict of interest’ with marketing of Sidmouth’s Drill Hall site | Sidmouth and Ottery breaking news and sport - Sidmouth Herald

It is understood that the District Council's appointment of agents JLL to sell the Drill Hall has created a ‘serious conflict of interest’ - given that the agents have Whitbread as a client and that their man liaising with potential bidders for the District Council also actively searches for sites for Premier Inn:
Questions raised by councillors about appointment of JLL to market Sidmouth's Drill Hall - Devon Live

As more research shows on the EDW blog:
JLL Property Consultants | East Devon Watch

Indeed, back in 2012, concerns were already being raised that agents JLL, contracted by the District Council during the tendering process for Elizabeth Hall in Exmouth, were also acting as Premier Inn’s agents:
EDDC denies conflict of interest over Exmouth hall sell-off - Claire Wright 

DISTRICT COUNCIL DESPERATE FOR BUYERS:

But that doesn't matter - as the District Council is desperate to sell to highest bidder:
Futures Forum: Redeveloping East Devon >>> of 'income streams' and 'regeneration'
Richard Cohen, East Devon’s Deputy CEO on opportunities & innovation | Room 151

In particular when it comes to the Drill Hall and Port Royal sites:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal 2009: "We are desperate for someone to buy this site and to give us good money for it."
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: anticipating a Regeneration Board >> "BIG seafront development plans ... lots of income for land-holding EDDC and big income potential"

And now Whitbread have millions to spend:
Whitbread chief is full of beans | Business | The Times

QUALITY RESTAURANTS AT PORT ROYAL:

Earlier this year, the District Council's consultants managed to come up with the notion that Port Royal needs 'quality restaurants':
People want quality restaurants and bars for Sidmouth seafront site - Devon Live

Although that's not the only thing that people want on the seafront:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: demand for cafes and restaurants come a poor third
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: selling the Drill Hall, rather than producing a masterplan

What is clearly wanted is something more visionary and more focussed on the community:
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: petition to create a community hub
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: "More than a thousand people have signed a petition calling for the Drill Hall to become a nightclub, following the shock closure of Carinas."
Futures Forum: Plans for Port Royal: a community bid for the Drill Hall > "Sidmouth Sunrise Drill Hall" campaign looking for help

And there are some great examples around:
Futures Forum: The Lost Arc of Rhayder >>> turning an Old Drill Hall into 'a fantastic space for rehearsal, for live music, good food and the arts'
Futures Forum: The Lost Arc of Rhayder > turning an Old Drill Hall into a Venue. Arts Centre. Café.
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