Reuben Brothers Step In Fully on Admiralty Arch Hotel Development, London to See An Opening Date of 2023/24, With Waldorf Astoria Brand
Main Photo: The much delayed Admiralty Arch Hotel. Photo Credit: Archer Humphreys
Date: June 2022
Name: Admiralty Arch Waldorf Astoria (we’re guessing)
Location: Admiralty Arch, The Mall/Trafalgar Square, London, England, UK
Number of Keys: 100+ with residences and a members’ club
Seller: Prime Investors Capital (PIC), a vehicle headed by Rafael Serrano, has owned Admiralty Arch since 2015 and has a 250-year lease on the Admiralty Arch site, having paid the government £60 million
Buyer: The Reuben brothers, who had already agreed funding to the tune of £180m, in December 2021
The much-delayed Admiralty Arch hotel development in London has been acquired by the billionaire Reuben brothers, who were named as the third richest family in the UK in the 2022 Sunday Times Rich List.
David and Simon Reuben, through their investment vehicle Motcomb Estates, have purchased the property, which stands at the entrance to the Mall leading to Buckingham Palace, from Prime Investors Capital (PIC).
In 2017, it was announced that hotel giant Hilton would operate the property under its high-end Waldorf Astoria brand, with the hotel scheduled to open in 2022.
However, it is now expected that the hotel will not open for at least another year….probably early 2024
When finished, the Admiralty Arch hotel will be home to a spa, three restaurants, a rooftop bar, private meetings and event spaces. It will also feature luxury private residences and a private members club.
Archer Humphryes Architects were commissioned in March 2020 to design the new hotel, following their successful appointment on the ongoing Peninsula London. Both projects share opposite ends of the most ceremonial route in the heart of Westminster from Trafalgar Square, along Pall Mall to Hyde Park Corner – and the practice are adept at the revivification of historic landmarks into contemporary re – use in the public realm as hotels.
They said: “The iconic hotel will offer guests the ultimate bespoke service, beyond the expectations of a 5-star hotel. Rooms and suites will be configured to cater for the requirements of international and local guests.”
Archer Humphryes have the creative and technical responsibility of leading the team, taking the base build architecture of the former government building and transforming it into a state-of-the-art contemporary hotel. In combining with David Milinaric on the array of suites, particular attention to respect the Grade I listed buildings, outstanding quality of Sir Aston Webb’s historic design, which uses direct references to the original architectural drawings and detailing from 1910 to restore and recreate the historic splendour of the building. Archer Humphryes are responsible for the bars, restaurants, entertainment, spa and the extensive restoration and refurbishment planned.
Admiralty Arch was originally built as a memorial by King Edward VII to his mother Queen Victoria. It went on to be used as government offices, before being put up for sale in 2011.
The brothers, reported to have amassed a £22 billion fortune, found success investing in real estate, including racecourses, pubs and data centres.
Hotels also make up a large chunk of the pair’s investment portfolio. Current properties they are involved in include the 31-bedroom Twenty Two hotel and members’ club on Grosvenor Square in London’s Mayfair, the Mondrian Shoreditch, the Lingfield Park Marriott Hotel & Country Club and the Hilton Garden Inn at Doncaster Racecourse.…and several more boutique hotels in Europe, acquired in recent years.
The Reuben brothers also own a stake in Newcastle FC, which they purchased last year, and are involved in two more hotel development projects in the capital. The first will see the former home of the In & Out Club on Piccadilly redeveloped into a 102-bedroom hotel, while the second will open on Poland Street in the Soho neighbourhood and will be managed by Shiva Hotels.
Price: Undisclosed
THPT Comment: Well it was inevitable that the Reuben brothers would step in at some stage, have invested a large amount in funding thus far. The rumour mill has had the hotel “up for sale” or at least more funding required for the past two years.
First Seen: Boutique Hotelier and Archer Humphyres website
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