Jurys Hotel Group intends to continue its expansion in Britain. Speaking before the official opening of the 190-bedroom Jurys Edinburgh Inn, Mr Peter Malone, managing director, said: "We would like to go into other cities", adding that "there is a lot more to do in the UK".

Jurys opened its first UK inn in London in April. The UK now represents 37 per cent of the rooms stock following the opening of the Edinburgh Inn. The planned 260-room inn for Manchester is scheduled to be opened next year. This, including the six in Ireland, will bring the number of inns up to nine. The Group also has five Irish hotels and four hotels in the UK.

The Jurys Edinburgh Inn was officially opened yesterday by the Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, Mr Eric Milligan. Centrally located on Jeffrey Street, the new inn is within 100 yards of the City's main railway station, Waverley. Mr Malone said the inn should make profits in year one.

The inn was developed in conjunction with the owners of the site, Capital Land Holdings, with £4 million sterling invested. Of the total, Jurys has invested £3 million sterling. Jurys is renting the building from Capital Land Holdings on a 25-year lease.