A HOTEL in Northwich has doubled in size and is already welcoming guests to its newly opened extension.

The Premier Inn at The Woodpecker, in London Road, officially opened the doors of its purpose-built 22-bedroom extension on Monday.

This sees it go from having 21 rooms in the original hotel to a total of 43.

An extra 80 car parking spaces have also been created behind the new build.

Lee Jackson, manager for seven years, said: “There’s been quite a lot of excitement around it as people have seen it going up.

“It’s huge and something we’ve needed for quite a few years but with the recession and everything it was put on hold.”

The new extension took four months to build and the next stage will see the older part of the hotel refurbished.

Lee said staff at the Premier Inn were not fazed by a new Travelodge being built at Lostock Triangle.

“It’s quite exciting about the Travelodge,” he said.

“I think it’s good for Northwich – there’s been a need for more accomodation in the area and we’re a different style of place, Premier Inn and Travelodge both have their own customers.”