Project overview
Project: Zeal Hotel, Exeter
Sector: Hotels
Client: Zeal Hotels
Main Contractor: Red Construction South West
Architect: ECE Westworks
Pod Type: Enhanced GRP pods
Number of pods: 134 shower pods
The project
Due to open in 2024, this new net-zero carbon hotel is targeting a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and will feature co-working space, meeting rooms, restaurant, bar, gym, gardens, and EV charging points.
This £700,000 contract is Offsite Solutions’ third project for Zeal Hotels. It follows the successful delivery of two earlier pod contracts for the Ibis Plaza Hotel and Holiday Inn Express in Bridgwater, Somerset, also developed by Zeal Hotels. The project reflects growing demand for bathroom pods in the hospitality sector.
The bathroom pod solution
This scheme marks the first application of Offsite Solutions’ new GRP ‘horizontal stack bond metro’ tile-effect bathroom finish. The 134 bespoke GRP shower pods will be manufactured and fitted out off-site under factory-controlled conditions, then installed on-site within just a few hours. This approach will reduce construction waste through more efficient use of materials while delivering superior and more consistent quality.
The customer perspective
“Sustainability was the main driver for our specification of GRP bathroom pods because of the recyclability properties of GRP. We have worked closely with the Offsite Solutions team to develop a carbon-reducing solution for the bathrooms. The use of pods will also radically reduce traffic to site and optimise materials to cut waste.”
“There are clear quality and programme benefits of manufacturing the bathrooms off-site. The Offsite Solutions team are proactive, collaborative, have performed on every Zeal project, and are committed to the sustainability agenda.”
– Tony Clark, Director, Zeal Hotels
Collaboration with Zeal at design stage
Offsite Solutions collaborated with Zeal during the design phase to shape a contemporary bathroom concept tailored to the hotel's sustainability goals. The shower rooms will feature a 1300mm shower with sliding glass door, a thermostatic shower on a sliding rail, and a modern grey-green metal box frame that supports a solid surface vanity top and rectangular hand basin with an integrated towel rail.
The design includes a back-lit rectangular mirror with an integrated demister pad, wall-hung toilet with a solid surface vanity shelf above, towel shelf, LED lighting, and an acoustic vinyl floor in sun-bleached oak. The bespoke metalwork in the vanity frame and towel rails has been finished in a distinctive grey-green tone.
Low-maintenance tile-effect finishes
Each ensuite will combine two GRP tile-effect finishes in matt white. A new horizontal stack bond metro tile design will be used on the lower half of the walls, with a 350mm square tile-effect above. These finishes are integral to the pod structure, eliminating the need for grout and separate tiling in wet areas. This simplifies cleaning and maintenance over time while maintaining a contemporary, high-end aesthetic — a key requirement for hotel operators.
Why demand for pods in the hospitality sector is increasing
Hotel bathrooms are typically repeated in design, making them ideal for modular, off-site construction. Offsite Solutions’ pods arrive fully finished and tested, which reduces installation time and on-site labour. The controlled factory environment improves quality, while the reduced build time accelerates project delivery – helping hotel developers achieve a faster return on investment.
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