Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel officially launches after extensive refurbishment of the former Best Western Plus
Waterfront hotel unveils contemporary new look, blending modern luxury with a prime location
The rebrand of a well-known Sheffield hotel has taken place, following 18-months of extensive renovations.
Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel replaces what was previously the Best Western Plus Sheffield Quays Hotel on the three-acre site on Victoria Quays.
Northland Properties, the Canadian owner of Sandman Hotel Group, bought the hotel in June 2022, taking over operations immediately. Renovations began in November 2023, and will be fully complete in Summer 2026.
All 128-bedrooms in the four-star hotel have now been completely renovated, falling into seven bedroom-types, including family rooms. Meetings and event spaces have also been reconfigured and refurbished.
The bar and restaurant has been relocated from the first floor to ground level, utilising what was previously unused space in Grade II listed arches beneath the six-story hotel. The arches date back to 1855 and have been restored to show off the original stone, brick and steel. A new dining concept, Tavern on The Quays, has been introduced and opened its doors on 22nd September to hotel guests and the general public.
The Tavern offers a contemporary spin on the classic pub, blending the modern style of The Tavern Collective venues already established in North America with a more traditional British setting and ‘laidback steampunk vibes’. The 5,000 sq ft bar and restaurant will seat 90 diners alongside a generous bar area, and private dining arches with space for 40 people. A 200-capacity ballroom for weddings and parties is currently being created, and an outdoor patio overlooking the water will also follow.
Leisure facilities have been rebranded to Signature Spa & Leisure. A full fitness suite refurbishment took place earlier this year, extending the space and adding state-of-the-art functional, resistance and cardiovascular equipment. Further refresh works to the 20m heated swimming pool, changing rooms, sauna and steam rooms will finish in 2026, along with the addition of treatment rooms.
An additional 32 bedrooms will be added to the hotel in 2026, taking Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel to 160-bedrooms, and will include suites with kitchenettes and balconies. A remodel of the reception area is also still due to take place.
The building originally opened as part of the Stakis Hotels group in the 1990s, before becoming the Sheffield Hilton. After a brief closure, in 2020 it was taken over by Best Western Plus under Legacy Hotels, before the most recent takeover by Northland Properties in 2022.
Kelly Murray, Regional Director for the Sandman Hotel Group, said: “Whilst we have been successfully operating the hotel for over three years, it’s fantastic to now be able to show off the full rebrand to Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel. We’ve been working hard to make improvements which will hugely improve the experience for our guests. The bedroom renovations, the leisure facility improvements and the newly designed event spaces all help to create a modern, calm and tranquil place to enjoy a visit whether it’s for business or pleasure. The introduction of Tavern on the Quays, and the relocation of the dining and bar area to underneath the historic arches, has made a huge difference, creating a really stylish and welcoming atmosphere and allowing non-residents to more easily enjoy the facilities too.”
Sandman Signature Sheffield Quays Hotel joins five other properties owned by the group within the UK and Ireland: Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel & Spa; Sandman Signature Newcastle Hotel; Sandman Signature London Gatwick Hotel; Sandman Signature Glasgow Hotel; and Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links. The group is currently building a hotel at Edinburgh Airport, due to open in 2028.
The hotel and its associated facilities employ 80 people.
For more information, go to: www.sandmansignature.co.uk/sheffield-quays
