It has been reported that the former Marks and Spencer store in Dorchester’s South Street is to become a hotel.
The building was purchased by Whitbread, who own Premier Inn, in early June 2023, and it is the company’s intention to restore the building, which is in a poor state of repair, to be a 100 bed hotel.
A spokesperson for Whitbread said that they are in early consultation with Dorchester Town Council and will hold public consultation in the autumn prior to submitting a planning application to Dorset Council.
Whitbread believes that a new hotel in the centre of the county town will boost tourism, help to bring investment to Dorchester and revitalise premises which are becoming dilapidated.
In recent times the former Marks & Spencer store has been used a base and outlet for the Dorset Carers Hub.