Beazer House, a 1960s office block on Lower Bristol Road in Bath, famous as the former headquarters of iconic crane manufacturer Stothert & Pitt, has been demolished, leaving only a large excavation site. Stothert & Pitt, renowned for producing cranes such as those at Bristol’s M-Shed harbourside, once operated its crane-making works across the road, now transformed into the Newark Works office complex.
Unlike the successfully repurposed crane works, Beazer House faced widespread criticism for its outdated and unattractive design. Often described as “one of Bath’s least attractive buildings,” it was granted planning permission in 2024 to be demolished to make way for a new Premier Inn hotel.
The upcoming Premier Inn, set to feature 152 rooms and create over 30 local jobs, will be Bath’s second branch, located just a ten-minute walk from the first Premier Inn on James Street West. Initially, the planning application referred to the project simply as the “New Bath Hotel,” without revealing the operator. Later, Premier Inn’s involvement became clear when the company applied for a bar license and sought council approval for exterior signage.
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Currently, the council is reviewing Premier Inn’s application for signage outside the new hotel. The transformation of Beazer House represents a major change in the Lower Bristol Road area, replacing a much-criticized building with a modern hotel aimed at boosting local employment and accommodation options.