Jury's Inn: Swindon town centre hotel completes name change

It has stood looking out onto the busy intersection of Fleming Way, Princes Street and Corporation Street for the last 13 years.

Now, the accommodation block formerly known as Jurys Inn has completed a big re-brand.

The familiar white text looming large at the top of the building has gone. Abseilers have been working come rain or shine to get the new red signage installed by the end of this week.

The Jurys Inn hotel signage has been removed while abseilers replace it with Leonardo Hotel (Image: Newsquest)

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday marked the moment the hotel officially became Leonardo Hotels.

Its parent company operates 35 Jurys Inn hotels in the UK and Ireland along with 16 hotels under the Leonardo brand, but is now turning all of them into Leonardo Hotels.

The aim is to continue the growth of the four-star hotel group.

In 2017, Jurys Inn joined the Fattal Hotel Group, which has a portfolio of over 200 superior, boutique and lifestyle hotels that have been successfully rolled out in over 100 destinations in Europe and Israel.

The Swindon hotel renovated some of its rooms in 2018 as well as the ground floor reception area and restaurant in 2019, so this change of name completes a top-to-bottom makeover.

Manager Jean-Paul Wyburn said: "The hotel has been investing in Swindon for the last 13 years and the rebrand firms up our ongoing investment. 

"It's an exciting day. People will be able to see the three new signs for miles around."

Staff at Leonardo Hotel Swindon celebrate the official renaming of Jurys Inn. (Image: Newsquest)

Jason Carruthers is the managing director of Jurys Inn and Leonardo Hotels UK & Ireland.

He added: “We believe that the most effective way to achieve our exciting ambitions and growth plans for the business is to rebrand Jurys Inn to the Leonardo brand – combining the key elements of the Jurys Inn operating platform with the existing Leonardo brand design and expanding reputation.

“With this rebranding programme, Leonardo Hotels will accelerate its momentum as one of the fastest growing brands in Europe and strengthen our position as one of the UK and Ireland’s leading hotel groups – offering 51 unique destinations to our local and international guests.

"The Leonardo brand identity will also be refreshed across the entire group, making it more contemporary and engaging.  

“Beyond this rebranding programme, we have very ambitious plans to continue growing our footprint in the UK and Ireland through new acquisitions and developments, along with some enhancements across our range of products and services.”