Major hotel planned for Strand Bar/Flaming Jacks site in Derry

There are plans for a major hotel at the site of a prominent bar and restaurant in Derry city centre following their recent sale.

It comes after the sale of numbers 31-35 Strand Road, the building which housed both the Strand Bar and Flaming Jacks restaurant.

The estate agents overseeing the sale of the Strand Bar complex, O’Connor Kennedy Turtle (OKT) have confirmed on their website that it had been sold.

The five floor building, described as a ‘former entertainment complex’ had a guide price of £500,000, with the listing adding that the occupiers will offer vacant possession prior to completion.

The sale of the premises also included the Liquor Licence for the building.

Planning permission had been given to the Duddy Group in April 2011 to construct a new 116 hotel at the site.

It was then reported in April 2013 that a Holiday Inn Express would be opened at the premises which were occupied by the Strand Bar and Flaming Jacks restaurant, creating up to 50 jobs and representing a £12m in the city.

It is understood discussions are now taking place with a view to a hotel being opened at the site.

Brendan Duddy Jr of The Duddy Group said that the sale of the premises would allow for “pre-contractual works” that were necessary at the site to now go ahead.

He added that Duddy Group hoped to make an announcement regarding their plans for the building in the coming weeks, adding that he was “hopeful” it would represent a “major investment” in the city.

Mr Duddy added they were also “doing their best” to ensure that all staff affected by the sale of the Strand Bar complex were re-deployed.