CBRE has been hired to explore options for the possible multi-million expansion of the Bliss Hotel in Southport and its adjoining site. Tony McDonough reports

Property consultancy CBRE has been brought in by the owners of the Bliss Hotel in Southport to explore options for a multi-million pound expansion.

Located on the Southport waterfront, the 131-room four-star Bliss Hotel is owned and operated by Bliss Investment Partners (BIP). The business was founded by Robert Agsteribbe and Daniel Broch.

It acquired the development from Wyndham in 2006 when the scheme was 60% built. It opened the hotel under the Ramada name, a Wyndham brand. In 2016 BIP decided to rebrand the hotel as Bliss.

It has since invested around £20m into the hotel. It includes penthouses, a lounge bar, restaurant, roof garden, gym, conferencing and events spaces and secure underground car parking for 120 cars.

Next door to the hotel is a 50,000 sq ft development site also owned by BIP. The whole complex is located adjacent to the proposed Marine Lake Events Centre. This would see a 1,200-seater events space built to replace the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre which closed in 2020. This is currently out to public consultation.

BIP has now tasked the operational real estate team at CBRE in Manchester with exploring “strategic options”. This could include expansion of the current hotel, a new separate hotel/apart hotel, residential development or hospitality or office space.

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Shaun Skidmore, senior director at CBRE Manchester, said: “The scheme is located in an excellent position next door to the newly proposed events centre and waterfront development.

“This is a significant, multi-million pound regeneration scheme. It will bring a host of economic benefits to the area. The recent upscaling to a luxury boutique has repositioned the Bliss Hotel significantly with respect to customer profile and rate. The adjoining scheme offers an exciting opportunity for redevelopment or expansion.”