You may not know it by name, but you’ll likely recognise the Admiralty Arch building, located on The Mall in the heart of central London. It has been announced that 12 top hotel operators are now interested in managing the new hotel and spa, along with serviced residences and private members’ club in the building, once frequented by Sir Winston Churchill, Lord Mountbatten and Lord Hailsham.
Work is already underway to develop the luxury hotel, which will comprise 100 bedrooms in what has been regarded as the gatehouse to Buckingham Palace, although the hotel operator will not be named until next year. The building dates back to 1910 and was erected as a monument to the British Navy and a memorial to Queen Victoria, linking the palace to The Mall and Trafalgar Square.
The Grade 1 listed building is being restored by Prime Investors Capital, which has been awarded a 250-year lease by the UK Government to convert the building. The project will also see the creation of four exclusive serviced residences available for purchase, boasting an extremely prime location and a slice of British history.
Each residence includes a number of suites, six-metre high ceilings, intricate crests, original fireplaces and Edwardian era fittings. Residents will have access to the luxury amenities offered by the hotel inside Admiralty Arch; a 24-hour concierge service and security; private off-road valet parking service; private entrance and lift to the residences; and a lifetime membership to the private members’ club.
Overseeing the restoration is renowned interior decorator David Mlinaric, who has worked on the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria & Albert Museum. “The furnishings are a mixture of antique and contemporary for reasons of styling and comfort,” he explained. “In this way, it will be quite unlike any other London hotel.”
The view down The Mall from Admiralty Arch