Whitbread is set to acquire a new site from Limerick Twenty Thirty to develop a 156-bedroom Premier Inn, marking the first private investment in the Opera Square project.

The seven-story hotel, situated at the corner of Ellen Street and Patrick Street, will be owned and operated by Whitbread. 

The development is part of the company’s broader strategy to establish a 5,000-room network across Ireland, adding to its existing portfolio in Dublin and Cork. 

Subject to an amendment of pre-existing planning permission, the hotel will include a mix of standard and premium rooms and a ground-floor lounge. 

Whitbread estimates the facility will accommodate approximately 60,000 guests annually, based on the average occupancy rates of its existing Irish estate.

The project is integrated into the wider Opera Square urban regeneration initiative, which includes a new civic plaza, a city library, and significant office accommodation. 

By delivering the site-wide basement in 2025, Limerick Twenty Thirty removed primary development constraints to facilitate private investment of this scale. 

The hotel is expected to support approximately 30 permanent positions, with recruitment focused on the local city and county area. All staff will be employed directly by the parent company, Whitbread.

Whitbread intends to submit a formal planning application to Limerick City and County Council before the summer of 2026. 

If approved, construction is scheduled to commence in 2027. This expansion follows the company’s 2025 decision to increase its Irish room target by 30%, identifying 10  regional locations for future growth alongside its continued expansion in the capital. 

The Limerick site was identified through a market engagement process designed to secure a long-term development partner for the city centre quarter.

Matt Gent, development manager for Whitbread in Ireland, said: “Ireland represents a growth opportunity for Premier Inn. We know there is demand for affordable accommodation across the country, and our ambition is to create a national network of hotels. Opera Square offers a mix of centrality and long-term potential for guests, and we are investing in a development that forms part of the wider regeneration of the city centre.”

John Moran, mayor of Limerick, added: “My priority has been improving delivery of city centre plans, including Opera Square. We want to see a dynamic mixed-use complex there. This new hotel is expected to attract approximately 60,000 visitors annually, supporting the commercial ecosystem. Now we move to the next element and keep our focus until it is all completed.”