ARCHAEOLOGISTS are assessing the finds they have made in a dig at the site of a new £30m hotel in Oxford.

A team from Oxford Archaeology has been commissioned to complete the work as part of plans for the new Marriott hotel in Paradise Street.

Finds included remains of the 18th and 19th century Swan Brewery and a late-medieval oven or kiln.

The hotel is being built on the site of the former Cooper Callas building and work is expected to be completed early next year.

The stand-out feature will be a roof garden and terrace with views of Oxford Castle.

The city council granted planning permission for the 140-room hotel last year and about 70 new jobs are being created, with the opening date expected to be May 2019.

Hayley Beer-Gamage, chief executive of tourism group Experience Oxfordshire, welcomed the new business and said the network of hotels at the ‘upper end of the market’ was helping to encourage people to stay longer and spend more money.

She added: “We are delighted to see an increase in bed stock and quality of bed stock coming on board.”

Occupancy rates in the city’s 26 hotels are the highest outside London.

Dominvs Group will run the hotel under the Courtyard by Marriott brand.

The site was identified by the council for redevelopment within the West End Area Action Plan.

Developers said the designs for the building mirrored the brickwork and fenestration in the surrounding streets, and received backing from Historic England.

Jay Ahluwalia said earlier on behalf of Dominvs Group: “We are delighted that this proposal has been deemed acceptable in both economic and heritage terms.

“The detail of the scheme has evolved following extensive consultation and engagement with officers at the city council along with officers from Historic England.”

A 90-bedroom Premier Inn has also been given planning permission opposite the Westgate Centre, next door to the Jolly Farmers pub.

It will replace the 1980s Critchleys office block.

Courtyard by Marriott is also opening a hotel at Milton Gate, near the A34 Milton Interchange.

Ms Gamage added that new hotel developments across the county were increasing the beds total by about 800.

Colin Cook, chairman of the West area planning committee, said: “We are desperate for more hotel beds, particularly in the city centre so we need these two new hotels to open.

“It will give our tourist trade a boost, persuading visitors to stay longer and spend more.”

Additional reporting by Nicola Dwornik.