Whitbread has announced plans to introduce its Brewers Fayre and Premier Travel Inn brands to Northern Ireland in a £30m investment programme which will establish up to 20 properties within the next five years.

The first phase of the expansion will start at the end of July, with the development of a Brewers Fayre family pub/restaurant and a 49-room Premier Travel Inn hotel in Carrickfergus, at a site overlooking the harbour and castle. Both are due to open in spring 2006.

Whitbread has appointed Belfast-based property consultants Osbourne King to identify and acquire further suitable locations across Northern Ireland. Premier Travel Inn – which was created when Whitbread acquired Spirit’s Premier Lodge chain in July 2004 – operates more than 27,000 rooms across 450 hotels. There are 400 outlets in the Brewers Fayre chain. Details: www.whitbread.com