Premier Inn wants to build hotels at these two locations in County Durham and Teesside

Most recent documents from Whitbread, the firm which owns the hotel chain, has revealed where the company wants to build next.

Known as 'target locations,' the firm updates its list every year as new hotels are built and fresh demand is identified.

In the 2017/2018 financial year, the chain said it had secured 31 new hotel locations across the UK and Ireland - the equivalent of 4,300 new bedrooms.

But adding six new locations, areas right across our region have been identified as desirable target locations.

It has named Barnard Castle, Saltburn, Gateshead Quayside, Hexham, Whitby and Ripon as areas it plans to open new venues in.

Meanwhile large swathes of areas across the country have been added with the South and South-West seeing dozens of new locations.

Towards the end of last year, construction of Premier Inn's latest hotel on Milburngate in Durham reached its milestone as its steel frame was completed.

The hotel, which will overlook Durham's riverside, will be joined by a Whitbread Bar and Block Steakhouse restaurant.

Richard Aldread, head of construction for Premier Inn in the north of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and Allan Cook, MD at Arlington Real Estate, at the new Premier Inn at Milburn-gate

Set to be completed by 2022, the hotel is expected to create 75 new jobs upon its opening.

In October Richard Aldread, head of construction for Premier Inn in the north of England, Scotland, and Ireland, said: “Milburngate is a fantastic development for Premier Inn to be part of in Durham.

“The new Premier Inn hotel will give our guests a prime location to stay in the city centre, a stone’s throw away from Durham’s historical colleges, and with lots of on-site leisure options to enjoy during their stay.

“We’re confident the Premier Inn hotel and Bar + Block restaurant will trade very well once we open our doors to guests and diners in 2022 and we can’t wait to become part of the community when we do.”