The construction of The James Hotel was a journey of determination, planning, and teamwork. The project began in June 2017 with the planning process, followed by planning approval in June 2018. In March 2019, we demolished the previous building and officially started the construction phase in September of that year, beginning with basement piling and foundation work.
The arrival of Covid-19 significantly slowed down progress, but by September 2020, the basement and ground floor structures were complete. The remaining floors and roof were finished by May 2021, allowing us to move forward with the internal works, including HVAC, plumbing, and electrics. By November 2022, the bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms were ready for fit-out.
The summer of 2023 saw the upper floors almost fully completed, but work on the ground floor was still in progress. A final push was made to meet our goal of opening the bar in time for Christmas 2023—a challenging but rewarding milestone that we achieved on December 15th. Though the rooms upstairs were nearly finished, they weren't quite ready for guests just yet. Following a series of dry runs with family and friends, we proudly welcomed our first guests to The James Hotel in February 2024.
Below, you’ll find a series of images capturing the milestones of this exciting journey from start to finish.
