Trigon Hotels Limited has announced a €50m investment in the Metropole Hotel in Cork City.

It will submit plans to refurbish and expand the Metropole hotel and to build a "contemporary urban hotel" called The M on an adjacent site. The two hotels will be linked by a glass bridge.

The overall development will deliver more than 400 hotel bedrooms to the city's Victorian Quarter.

Vincent O’Farrell, Director, Trigon Hotels Limited commented, "This year marks the 120th anniversary of the iconic Metropole Hotel so it’s fitting that our extensive refurbishment plans for the 'Grand Dame' of Cork’s hotel market will see the property sensitively and lovingly restored to her former glory, or her return to greatness.

"In addition to our extensive refurbishment and expansion plans for the Metropole Hotel, we also have plans to build a new, contemporary urban hotel on an adjacent site near Harley Street, called ‘The M’. This property will be a brand new hotel concept for Cork featuring a relaxation collision space, where all the front of house hotel activity happens in the same zone, a living room for the Cork City experience, if you like. If asked to compare the two properties, I would describe the Metropole Hotel as a glass of champagne, while 'The M' is an Espresso Martini," he added.

The Metropole refurbishment will also incorporate three 'boutique retail units,' a seventh-floor penthouse, an elevated rooftop bar, upgraded spa facilities and function rooms, an additional 140 new bedrooms and 43 bedroom suites, and meeting rooms.

Once fully occupied, the total number of employees in the hotel and retail units is estimated to rise to 200.