The latest news:
A&O Hostels has acquired the former DoubleTree by Hilton, Docklands Riverside, for its first London property. It will be rebranded as a&o London Docklands Riverside and is scheduled to open in November 2025 with 500 bedrooms.
The Germany-based boutique hotel group - AMANO, has acquired Waterman House on London’s Kingsway. The former office building is to be converted into a new boutique hotel with 70 bedrooms with a new ground-floor food retail concept. Further details to follow. The new hotel will be located a short walk away from the group’s other London property: Hotel AMANO Covent Garden.
The Sloane Club, the private members club in London’s Chelsea, has reopened following a two-year, £20 million upgrade. The Club now includes a co-working hub, flexible meeting areas and a private screening room for pitches and presentations - plus 56 bedrooms and 10 suites available for members and their guests.
Crafted at Powermills is a new ‘lifestyle’ brand hotel, set to open in Battle in Sussex this November. Built overlooking a 7-acre private lake and woodland, the hotel will include 55 bedrooms and suites, a restaurant and bar, a member’s club and two three-bedroomed cottages.
The Francis Hotel Bath is planning to unveil its £14million refurbishment this November. The refurbishment has included all 98 bedrooms and suites, the hotel lobby, a new restaurant plus the addition of a dedicated spa. The refurbishment will mark the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth in the city.
New owners of The Mount Somerset which closed earlier this year, are planning an extensive renovation of the Grade-2 listed building. They plan to rename the manor house which dates from the early 19th century back to its original name, Henlade House, prior to relaunching as an events venue.
The Hobson Cambridge by Adina is a new hotel opening in St Andrew’s Street in Cambridge on 10 November. It is an apartment-styled hotel with 56 units and it will be the first opening of the Australian owned hotel group in the UK.
Construction work has just begun on a new Hampton by Hilton in Wigan. Opening is planned for winter 2027. The 6-storey hotel will have 144 bedrooms and suites, meeting facilities, restaurant and bar and a gym.
The Dunblane Hydro in Scotland has joined the Apex portfolio. The hotel, with over 200 bedrooms, was once a Victorian health spa resort. Apex are planning a major refurbishment of the hotel which includes conference spaces to accommodate up to 500 delegates.
Group News:
IHG Hotels who launched their Garner branded hotels in the UK earlier this year now operate five Garner properties in Preston, Edinburgh, Nottingham, Birmingham and Reading. A sixth hotel in central London - Garner Hotel London Paddington – is scheduled to open next year.
Hilton is set to launch its 25th hotel brand this November - Outset Collection by Hilton. It joins the group’s ‘lifestyle’ portfolio. The first opening will be in Chicago. Hilton anticipates a future 500 Outset Collection hotels across the United States and Canada.
Radisson Hotel Group has opened its 100th Radisson Individuals branded property. The world-wide branding was launched in 2020.
The Pride of Britain hotels group has added two hotels to its portfolio – The Headland in Newquay, Cornwall and The Atlantic Hotel in Jersey.
Travelodge has acquired two hotels in Burton-upon-Trent and Glasgow Cumbernauld. Burton-upon-Trent Travelodge has 68 bedrooms and is located in the town centre, next to the railway station. Glasgow Cumbernauld Travelodge has 57 bedrooms and is situated close to the M80,
English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues with a range of venues in the Lake District and North Lancashire are now accepting Bitcoin payments for rooms and leisure services in all its venues.
….and finally, The Country Dog Hotel in Bridgwater, Somerset offers bespoke luxury boarding for dogs while their owners are away. The hotel claims to have a fully trained team of professionals and specialists working 24 hours a day to ensure their doggy guests are safe and happy. The dogs can sleep with one of the staff on a human bed, a dog bed, a sofa or the hotel will emulate the dog’s sleeping routine at home. A luxury door-to-door collection and delivery is part of the VIPs package. Now the hotel has added a spa to its facilities.