Invited guests enjoyed a first look at the new Tŷ Hotel Newport six months ahead of its opening at a special party held on the building site for the £20m development.

Part of The Celtic Collection, the 146-bedroom hotel by the Coldra roundabout at Langstone will not open until the beginning of June 2024 but construction halted temporarily for a night of celebration to toast the future success of the new venue.

More than 60 people gathered on the concrete foundations that will become the hotel’s Casa restaurant and bar to enjoy drinks and street food style tasters of the Mediterranean inspired menu. Servings included Spanish marinated pulled pork, picante pizza, tapas of prosciutto, burrata and pimiento, and desserts of affogato and warm churros dipped under a chocolate fountain.

Among the guests at the Par-Tŷ in the Foundations event were Wales rugby stars Dan Lydiate and Bradley Davies, international footballer Joe Ledley, Olympians Darren Campbell, Christian Malcolm and Amy Williams, and Eastenders actor Joe Farrar.

Entertainment was provided by local band The Apple Tree Theory while graffiti artist Steve Jenkins invited guests to join him in spray painting a chipboard wall.

Party-goers were also given the chance to don hard hats and hi-viz vests to tour the three storeys of accommodation that will provide vital additional bedrooms for events held at the nearby ICC Wales, as well as offer another inviting option for business travellers and leisure guests.

Celtic Collection Regional Operations Director Matthew Barnby said: “There’s a real need for this hotel to support ICC Wales so we are delighted to be heading into the final phases of the build and we can now see the hotel really taking shape.

“As well as growing the bedrooms so we can bid for larger events at ICC Wales, we benefit from having another fantastic hotel to accommodate local corporate guests, sports teams and leisure guests.

“We had a great evening welcoming guests into the hotel for the first time and it was good to get a feel for how the space will look and sound when it is packed with hotel guests having an amazing time.”

While most of the interior still awaits decoration and furnishing, the tour included a chance to see a finished bedroom, complete with desk and chair, 49-inch Samsung TV, tea and coffee making facilities and Elemis toiletries in the spacious bathrooms.

The hotel will also feature an Activi-Tŷ Suite fitness room with the latest Technogym equipment and two meeting boardrooms.