Belfast City Council has approved planning permission for a new 276-room hotel in the city’s Titanic Quarter.

The “family-focused” hotel will be located at Hamilton Dock just off the Queen’s Road, and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2021.

The property will feature a ground floor café, restaurant and retail offering, as well as a gym, conference facilities and a rooftop bar.

The hotel will be developed by JMK Group, which already operates the Holiday Inn Express Dublin City Centre and the Waterford Marina Hotel, as well as four London hotels.

The group also has four further properties currently under construction – three in Dublin, and the Hampton By Hilton London Ealing, which is accepting reservations from May 15.

Branding for the new Belfast hotel has not yet been confirmed, but JMK says that it will operate the property “under franchise to an international brand”.

Commenting on the news John Kajani, founder and chairman of JMK Group said:

“We are delighted with Belfast City Council’s decision to approve this exciting hotel development and are eager to progress our investment in the area.

“Belfast has become a destination-of-choice, particularly for families and city-break enthusiasts, and we are thrilled with the opportunity to support the thriving economic growth of the City’s tourism industry.”

“Ideally located on Hamilton Dock, our hotel will welcome visitors of the Titanic Quarter, as well as those visiting the wider Queen’s island, waterfront and Belfast City.

“We have given thorough consideration to identifying a suitable operator who can deliver a high quality guest experience and cater to families and solo travellers alike. We look forward to introducing our chosen brand of the hotel in due course and begin construction on this new landmark for the Titanic Quarter.”

jmk-group.co.uk