‘Alcatraz’ jibe at hotel plans (From Dudley News)

‘Alcatraz’ jibe at hotel plans

2:20pm Wednesday 11th July 2012 in News

BLACK Country funnyman, Aynuk, has criticised design plans for a new hotel at Castlegate, comparing it to “Alcatraz”.

Premier Inn, whose advertisement campaign is fronted by Dudley’s Lenny Henry, has submitted plans to Dudley Council build the 63-bed, three-storeyhotel at Castlegate Business Park, alongside Showcase Cinema and The Village Hotel.

Alan Smith, from Netherton, aka Aynuk, said: “When I saw the proposed Premier Hotel for Dudley, I collapsed backwards on my bed, as Dudley-born comedians do.

“We are hopefully getting rid of one eyesore with Cavendish House and replacing it with another.

“My first reaction was that the architect must be a regular viewer of the TV series Alcatraz, to have gained inspiration for this.

“The only thing lacking is a barbed wire fence and a machine gun post.

“What Premier must realise is, some of us still have pride in historical Dudley, we live here. We deserve a building to be proud of.

“Capability Brown would turn on his drawing board on comparing this cell block with his grand Himley Hall.

“The only thing not Premier is the design.”

The hotel plans also include dining facilities and a residents’ bar area, as well as 65 car parking spaces including two electric vehicle charging points.