Whitbread has entered into a strategic agreement with Lambeth Council to transform Phoenix House, an office building in Vauxhall, Central London, into a new Premier Inn hotel. This project, pending planning approval, involves a comprehensive refurbishment of the ten-storey structure, reflecting Whitbread’s commitment to expanding its hospitality footprint in key urban locations.
Phoenix House, previously occupied by Lambeth Council until its relocation in 2019, is situated in a prime Vauxhall location. The council has significantly streamlined its office presence, reducing from fourteen locations to two, as part of an efficiency-driven initiative to optimize its property assets. This strategy has enabled Lambeth Council to repurpose underutilized buildings, creating residential opportunities and revenue-generating projects.
“We have been actively seeking the right location for a Premier Inn in Vauxhall for nearly ten years. Phoenix House offers an ideal location for our customers, and we anticipate it will be a popular choice for guests looking for excellent transport connections, unique cultural experiences, and vibrant nightlife.
“The first Premier Inn in Central London was an office-to-hotel conversion at County Hall in north Lambeth in the late 1990s. Since then, we have successfully transformed former office buildings into thriving hotels across the capital—revitalizing spaces, creating fantastic destinations for our guests and offering new job opportunities for local people.
“We look forward to bringing our expertise to the transformation of Phoenix House and, subject to planning permission, adding Vauxhall to the growing list of high-profile Premier Inn locations in Central London.” – Jonathan Langdon, Senior Acquisition Manager for Whitbread
Under the proposed lease terms, Whitbread will refurbish and manage Phoenix House as a Premier Inn, while Lambeth Council retains the overarching head lease with an extensive tenure. This development aligns with the council’s broader objective of revitalizing local infrastructure, offering economic benefits, and enhancing public services.
The initiative follows an earlier unsuccessful attempt to lease the building to an office operator, impacted by financial challenges and reduced office demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this period, Phoenix House temporarily accommodated various council projects.
“I’m delighted that we have agreed a rental agreement that will see this property brought back into use, boost the local area and create income for the council at a time of unprecedented financial strains on our budget. “A hotel operator was chosen as the best option for Phoenix House because as well as getting rent for the council it supports our work to boost evening activity in the area which is one of the London Mayor’s Night Time Enterprise Zones.
“The building will also be brought back into use at a high level of environmental sustainability standards and create new job opportunities for local people. “We are ambitious for our town centres and expect that this agreement, if concluded, will be a catalyst for making further improvements to Vauxhall with the aim of making it a far more attractive and safe place to both live and visit.” – Cllr David Amos, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Finance
Premier Inn, Whitbread’s flagship hospitality brand, currently manages over 85,500 rooms across its Premier Inn and hub by Premier Inn properties throughout the UK and Ireland. Whitbread maintains ambitious growth objectives, aiming to expand its presence to 125,000 rooms in these key markets.
The planned hotel in Vauxhall is expected to contribute significantly to Whitbread’s growth trajectory, delivering valuable accommodation capacity in one of London’s thriving districts.
