The latest news stories you may or may not have read over the last week - starting in the south and heading north they include:
The Draycott Hotel in London’s Chelsea has been acquired by the Cadogan Group who already own The Cadogan Hotel. The Draycott Hotel dates from the late 1890’s and comprises three red-brick town houses. Plans are afoot to refurbish the 35-bedroom property and transform it into The Chelsea Townhouse.
Plans for two new hotels on the Albert Embankment in central London have been approved. The hotels will be located in a 26-storey and a 29-storey block. Both will operate independently, and both will be linked by a five-floor podium. The two hotels will have nearly 900 bedrooms between them. Further details to follow.
Brentford FC with a wide range of meeting, events and exhibition facilities in London has just joined the Lime Venue Portfolio.
New owners have already begun a refurbishment project at the 32-bedroom Winford Manor hotel near Bristol Airport. This includes a renovation of the existing bedrooms and the addition of several new ones.
Plans have been approved for a new lifestyle hotel in the centre of Chester. The new hotel, in Frodsham Street, will have 162 bedrooms and will feature a top-floor restaurant plus a rooftop balcony overlooking Chester Cathedral. We await details of the hotel operator for this venture plus its likely opening date.
Plans have been published for the redevelopment of the former George Hotel in Huddersfield town centre. They will bring the Grade II-listed building back into use as a hotel. The George Hotel is famous for being the birthplace of the rugby league in 1895. The new-look hotel will be operated by Radisson Hotel Group. The number of bedrooms will increase from the former 60 to 91 with a new restaurant and bar as well as meeting and events facilities. We will monitor progress of the plans and report back.
Into Scotland: Adagio Glasgow Central is set to open at the beginning of December. The aparthotel will have 162 rooms and is situated on the banks of the River Clyde in the centre of Glasgow. It will include a gym, laundry room and guest library. Its design and indoor décor will pay homage to the location’s nautical history.
Staying in Glasgow, the first Motto by Hilton branded hotel in the UK is set to open, also on the banks of the River Clyde in Glasgow, in autumn 2024. Moto by Hilton Glasgow will have 186 bedrooms and suites plus restaurants, bars and meeting and events facilities.
Ruby Hotels has plans to open its first hotel in Scotland - but not until the end of 2025. Ruby Hotel Edinburgh will be located in Princes Street. It will have 300 bedrooms over seven floors and will feature a rooftop terrace, restaurant and a bar.
Finally, Accor Group, operator of Sofitel, Novotel and Ibis hotel brands amongst others has just added the Orient Express to its roster. It is now restoring 17 historic carriages dating back to the 1920’s. The Paris to Istanbul rail service has been synonymous with luxury travel since it was first introduced in the 1920s. The service last ran in 1977 and now Accor is now planning to resurrect the service again from 2025 – so clients can once again experience history combined with ultimate luxury.