Today’s news in brief – 02/10/23
The Radisson Blu Glasgow has completed a £15m refurbishment project, renovating nearly 250 bedrooms over eight months. Designer Marie Soliman was enlisted to create a new luxurious design for the hotel, inspired by Scotland’s rugged beauty. She also collaborated with Timorous Beasties, a local luxury wallpaper and fabric company, to create bespoke wallpaper for the bedrooms. The hotel now offers a range of rooms, including two to three bed apartments and family rooms with bunk beds. Additionally, the hotel boasts 15 meeting rooms and halls capable of hosting up to 800 people, making it a versatile venue for events. The general manager, Hina Rubbani-Mills, expressed excitement about the redesigned spaces and their readiness to welcome various types of travellers.
Raffles London at The OWO, located in a historic Whitehall building, has officially opened to the public. This establishment is the first Raffles hotel in the UK, offering 120 spacious rooms and suites, restaurants by Mauro Colagreco, event spaces, and a spa in partnership with Guerlain and Pillar Wellbeing. The hotel features heritage suites that occupy the former offices of influential leaders, including Winston Churchill’s office. Chef Mauro Colagreco presents three gastronomic experiences highlighting British cuisine. The hotel also houses bars, lounges, and a wellness kitchen. A state-of-the-art Guerlain spa spanning 2,500 square metres offers a variety of facilities. The project was described as a restoration of a legendary building, preserving its historical significance.
Studio Moren has received planning consent to transform 4-6 Bedford Place, a Grade II-listed Bloomsbury hotel, into a 43-room luxury boutique townhouse hotel. The design draws inspiration from the households living in the property in 1911, with decor reflecting their stories. The project aims to retain, restore, and conserve the Grade II-listed building while adding three wings to extend accommodations. En-suite bathrooms will be added in a lightweight, reversible design style to modernise the hotel while preserving its authenticity.
Warner Leisure Hotels, part of the Bourne Leisure portfolio acquired by Blackstone, has acquired two high-quality hotels: Dalmahoy Hotel and Country Club near Edinburgh and Forest of Arden Country Club near Birmingham. These acquisitions are part of a £450m investment in Warner Leisure’s holiday parks and hotels, with an additional £120m for renovations and expansion. The Dalmahoy Hotel, the group’s first in Scotland, offers 215 bedrooms, golf courses, restaurants, bars, and conference facilities. The Forest of Arden Country Club, located in the Midlands, has 214 bedrooms, golf courses, tennis courts, a leisure club, and conference facilities. These additions bring Warner Leisure Hotels’ total portfolio to 18 properties with over 4,000 rooms, with plans for redevelopment and growth.
