Today’s news in brief – 31/10/23
The New Forest Hotel Collection, a group of four boutique hotels in the New Forest National Park, is up for sale for the first time in over four decades. The owners are seeking to retire and pass on the hotels to new custodians to continue their development. The collection comprises a country house hotel, a historic manor, a townhouse, and a rural inn, located in Beaulieu, Burley, Cadnam, and Lyndhurst, respectively. These hotels are highly popular among leisure guests due to their proximity to outdoor activities, seaside resorts, and corporate event facilities.
Whitbread, the company behind Premier Inn and Hub by Premier Inn hotels, has welcomed new additions to its property team. Will Steward and Rowan Edwards have joined as construction project and program managers to oversee the expansion of the hotel pipeline across the UK and Ireland. James Hall is now the acquisition development manager for London, with a focus on growing the estate in the capital. Quinten Barker, the group’s first property degree apprentice, has joined the team to support future growth. Whitbread aims to increase its network from 84,000 open bedrooms to potentially 125,000 rooms, with a recent addition of 430 bedrooms in the first half of FY24.
Leeds Castle in Kent is introducing four luxury Lakeside Lodges with private access to the historic Grade I listed castle. These lodges offer views over the Great Water, with stargazing rooflights above the beds. Designed by Koto, they prioritise sustainability, using UK-grown timber and home-grown charred larch to minimise the carbon footprint. The Leeds Castle Foundation anticipates that guests will appreciate the modern comfort, luxurious surroundings, and breathtaking views.
The Chelsea Harbour Hotel is reopening its Estiva Bar and Restaurant, embracing a Mediterranean summer theme. The redesigned space with waterfront views will open on November 3, 2023. The menu features tender cuts of meat and seafood, while the cocktail offerings are inspired by the ocean. Chelsea Harbour Hotel, owned by Millennium Hotels and Resorts, is a luxury five-star hotel with 154 suites, penthouses, and spa facilities, including a 17-metre indoor swimming pool and fitness suite. The relaunched Estiva offers guests a taste of Mediterranean oasis in the prestigious Chelsea Harbour neighbourhood.
