Guest accommodation to reopen at Prince of Wales in Athlone
The Prince of Wales hotel in the centre of Athlone is preparing to reopen as guest accommodation more than three years after it closed to the public in order to house people fleeing the war in Ukraine.
The landmark Church Street business will now trade as The Prince Rooms, and is describing itself as "the Midlands' first fully-automated guest accommodation offering".
A recorded message which plays on the hotel's phone number states that it's currently closed as it prepares to reopen this Spring.
The message says The Prince Rooms will offer "a new, modern rooms-only stay designed for comfort, simplicity and independent travel".
In early February, the business advertised for a number of staff roles such as accommodation manager, accommodation staff, day porters, and night-time security.
The recruitment advertisement stated that guest accommodation at The Prince Rooms would be opening in May, but that "all positions are available from March so full training can take place on-site".
The recruitment post added that the business was looking for "team members who are motivated by excellence and want to be part of this exciting new project".
In October 2022, a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth confirmed to the Westmeath Independent that it was "making arrangements" with the Prince of Wales hotel "as part of the Ukraine response".
Last year, the Government published a list of accommodation centres which had been housing Ukrainian nationals but would now be returning to their original use or an alternative use.
This list included the Prince of Wales in Athlone, with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration stating that its use as Ukrainian accommodation would be ending by December 21, 2025, and that 17 remaining residents were to be relocated by that date.
The Prince of Wales Hotel is one of Athlone's most long-established businesses, having accommodated its first guests in the 19th century.