A CONTROVERSIAL hotel at the home of Hampshire cricket has finally opened its doors.

The Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl in West End is officially up and running after general manager Dominic Osborne cut the ribbon.

But it comes a year late after work on the scheme, which has been underpinned by Eastleigh Borough Council funds, was halted for six months when the contractor went into administration.

The 171-bedroom six-floor venue, which overlooks the cricket ground, has features including a large ballroom capable of hosting 700 people, spa facility, conference facilities, a Spa Cafe, Lakeview Sports Bar and the 140-seater BEEFY’S restaurant, Ian Botham’s first venture into the restaurant industry.

The spa includes eight treatment rooms, a spa pool, salon, nail bar and restaurant.

Although work continues on the golf course, the first nine holes should be complete by May next year and the last nine by autumn.

The hotel employs more than 200 staff plus additional flexible bank staff for major events.

A grand opening inviting business leaders to see what the hotel can offer is planned for July.

Liberal Democrat run Eastleigh Borough Council has confirmed it has now bought the completed hotel for the agreed price of £27.4 million as planned.

Meridian Leisure, Shire Hotels and MacDonald Hotels' launched a judicial review into the council's plans to use taxpayers' money to secure the development.

But their call for an investigation was thrown out by a top judge before the trio of firms withdrew their appeal to that decision and work began on the hotel in April 2013.

Plans for the venue, off Botley Road, were then thrown into turmoil back in October 2013 when building work came to a sudden halt after Denizen, the firm building it, went into administration.

Work began again six months later after Hampshire-based Powells Group Ltd took on the project.

The council has also bought the ground the hotel sits on for £1.1m and in 2011 also bought the lease of the 167-acre Ageas Bowl site for £6.5m.

Mr Osborne has previously said he hopes that the hotel and cricket ground can be mutually beneficial helping to bring more matches and business to the site and raising the ground’s cricketing profile.

He has told how the venue already had bookings for weddings for the rest of this year and into 2017 and conference event enquiries for as far ahead as 2017.

Simon Vincent, President of Hilton Worldwide, said the hotel would give a boost to the region’s economy.

Rob Palleschi, Global Head of Brands for Hilton Worldwide, said: “The Ageas Bowl is one of the most iconic venues in Hampshire with a rich history in hosting major music and sporting events.

“The opening of Hilton at The Ageas Bowl Southampton strengthens our affiliation with leading sporting and event venues in the region.”