Budget Hotel Chain Point A Plans Aberdeen Opening
Date: April 2018
Location: Union Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland
Name: Currently Denburn House – to be opened as a Point A hotel – opening 2020 (?)
Denburn House, currently an office building
The 20-25 Union Terrace site dates back to the late 19th century, but the buildings were mostly demolished in the 1980s with only the fronts being retained.
No. of Keys: 121 bedroom and 57 studio apartments
Seller: Denburn House was bought in March 2013 by Lumina Real Estate Capital Special Situations Fund I, a Cayman Limited Partnership targeting returns in excess of 20% through a value-added approach. The fund has acquired a portfolio of real estate interests in the UK across all sectors.
Buyer: Budget hotel chain Point A is set to expand its Scottish operations after plans to convert a city centre office building were approved by Aberdeen City Council.
The budget hotel chain, part of the Queensway Group, was named as the building occupier in proposals to convert Denburn House (54,000 sq. ft.) in Union Terrace into a separate hotel and aparthotel, the Aberdeen Evening Press reports.
The majority of the existing building will be retained, including the original stone Union Terrace frontage, side elevations and windows.
Aberdeen City Council planners have approved the detailed planning application, subject to conditions.
In the council’s report, planners said: “It is considered that the proposed change of use of the listed building from office to hotel/aparthotel use would have no detrimental impact on the amenity of the surrounding area.
“Due consideration has been given to the proposed external alterations to the building, thereby ensuring the development has no adverse effect on the character of the surrounding conservation area, and that the special interest of the listed building is suitably preserved.”
The application also suggests the plan aligns with the council’s desire to see more hotels in the city.
Lambert Smith Hampton advised on the planning application.
Point A, which is owned by family-owned hospitality business Queensway Group, currently operates seven hotels in London and one in Glasgow and bought The Sloane Club in London in 2017.
THPT Comment: Nick Jivraj, owner of Queensway, is a veteran hotelier and has done well with Point A – a rebrand from the original Tune Hotel (and easyHotel) franchise he has held for several years.
First Seen: The Caterer