Aerial view of the Birmingham Road Site

Author: Simon Fletcher – Chief Executive – Lichfield District Council

I met with a restaurateur earlier this week about their plans for expansion and ambition  in the heart of Lichfield. When I set out our proposals for our site on Birmingham Road, the response was ‘I’d like first refusal on the hotel’, not a moment of hesitation. We’re keen to create more overnight stay opportunities in the city, so a boutique hotel has been mooted. They were thinking exactly the same. It was exciting to see that energy and alignment.

I also met with a super exciting brand, a pub, restaurant and bar operator about a deal to bring them to Lichfield as part of the cinema complex we’re bringing to the old Debenhams building. We’ve had a couple of meetings now and it’s really exciting to see their excitement about the cinema operator and plans for that site but also for our broader regeneration aspirations on Birmingham Road. They want to move quickly, we’re planning a site meeting with their board later this month after which, they say, they can make a commitment.

I love meeting new brands and people and seeing their enthusiasm for our district. It makes my job so much easier when they want to work with us.