One More Thing:We can't imagine that Irish financier Derek Quinlan has spent much time in Derby in the English midlands but he might pay a visit soon after the city's councillors granted him planning permission late last week to build a Jurys Inn in the face of stiff opposition from locals.
A £25 million investment is planned in an 11-storey, 226-bed hotel, 89 apartments, a casino and a restaurant on a former BMW site in the city.
It will be one of Derby's tallest buildings and will sit close to two conservation areas, with the result that 30 objections were received by the local council.
The site is owned by Irish property developers McAleer & Rushe and the plan was in the pipeline long before Quinlan spent €1.16 billion to buy the business from Jurys Doyle.
Quinlan has said he plans to take the three-star Inns brand to continental Europe. For now, the focus is on adding to its 15 properties in the UK, its bread and butter market.
Derby appears to be something of a hotel hotspot at present. Holiday Inn, Hilton, Ramada and Finesse Hotels all have plans to open in the city.
Quinlan will no doubt be hoping that this season's Premier League relegation certainties will mean Derby County can bounce straight back up to the top flight, attracting hordes of away fans to the city.
Elevation back to the Premier League in time for an August kick off to the 2009/10 season should coincide nicely with the opening of Quinlan's shiny new Inn.
