THE first ‘boutique hostel’ in Cirencester is set to open by New Brewery Arts, in the place of the old Niccol theatre which closed ten years ago.

The Niccol theatre, which housed the popular Brewery Blues musical evening now held at the Kings Head Hotel, closed down in 2005 due to financial difficulties.

The Barrel Store opens on April 24 with 44 beds available in 14 ensuite rooms, a large self-catering kitchen and a lounge. There will also be a drying room intended for the use of cyclists or sports enthusiasts.

It already has bookings from people from Japan, China, New Zealand and Australia.

The short-stay hostel will be targeting families, young people and community groups. It has said that is not marketing itself as a backpacker’s or a young traveller’s hostel.

It welcomes bookings from individuals and groups. Large groups can exclusively hire the hostel for the weekend.

Rooms start from £25 per person per night in a four-bed bedroom. Visitors will be allowed to stay for a maximum of 14 consecutive nights.

The Barrel Store will become the first hostel in Cirencester. Ali Russell, chief executive of New Brewery Arts, said: “There is currently nothing affordable in the area with regards to accommodation.

“Some people like hostelling, they like that they can cook in a communal kitchen and meet people from all around the world. There is a growing market for hostels as people are looking for budget accommodation.”

As well as trying to bring affordable accommodation into the centre of Cirencester town, New Brewery Arts hopes to attract more visitors to the arts centre and the town.

Ms Russell said: “Shops, cafes and museums around the area will benefit. We’ll have a lot of new people, and people in hostels usually spend more per head because they do not spend much on accommodation.

“It also means that people who come for our workshops have somewhere to stay and people who stay with us can join our workshops.”

New Brewery Arts hosts a number of professional artists who lead classes and workshops in crafts, including pottery, willow weaving, textiles, painting, drawing and stone-carving.