Birmingham hotel targets new markets after funding deal

A Birmingham hotel is to expand its events space after securing a £250,000 funding deal.

The Westmead Hotel in Alvechurch is targeting the weddings market after winning the finance package from Santander Corporate & Commercial.

Established in 2009 and owned by Ben and Jessy Panesar, the family-run hotel has 57 rooms and room occupancy has increased from 66% to 78% over the past four years. The business now employs 70 people.

The owners have already upgraded parts of the hotel, including turning seven bedrooms and the former night porter’s room into eight executive rooms.

The bank funding has allowed the Panesars to develop an existing events room into a space suitable for weddings, banquets and functions.

Their aims is to establish the hotel as one of the leading wedding venues in Birmingham.

Santander also assisted the Panesar’s with the purchase of the freehold title of the hotel and with buying out two partners.
Ben Panesar said: “We are incredibly excited to be able to complete the developments to the hotel, as we can now offer a fantastic events space for weddings and other functions.”

Jenny Clayton, relationship director, Santander Corporate & Commercial, said: “The Panesar family are experienced operators with a hands-on approach and a very successful track record to running a hotel. They have invested significantly in the redevelopment of the business and the new function room and banquet facilities will be a good source of income for them – as well as resulting in new jobs for the local areas. We are delighted to be able to help them realise their ambitions.”