YHA looks to open ‘Super Hostel’ in London
The YHA has applied for planning to open its first ‘Super Hostel’ in London.
If approved, the 850-bed Youth Hostel will be built by YHA in the Olympic Park next to Stratford Tube station and Westfield Shopping Centre.
Construction on the £30 million hostel will start in 2017 with plans for an opening in early 2019.
The purpose-built hostel will be nearly three times larger than any other property within the YHA network in the England and Wales.
It will have ensuite bedrooms, bars, restaurants, conference and meeting facilities, a self-catering kitchen and communal spaces.
YHA chief executive Caroline White said: "We are responding directly to the needs of today’s young people and their families with our plans for YHA Stratford.
"Once built, it will further our vision to reach more young people and enable them to discover the capital with their school, group or family."
YHA currently has seven Youth Hostels in the capital, which are the backbone of charity’s financial stability.
In addition to the proposed Olympic Park hotel, building is already underway on YHA The Sill at Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland National Park, expected to open next year.
Refurbishments are also underway across YHA’s network, including YHA Swanage in Dorset, YHA St David’s on the Pembrokeshire Coast and YHA Tanners Hatch in the Surrey Hills.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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