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Heather Sandlin

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Historic Wellingborough hotel hits the market

🏨 The Hind Hotel, a 17th-century former coaching inn in Wellingborough town centre, is up for sale. Located on Sheep Street, it's a Grade II* listed building tied to the 1645 Battle of Naseby. A recent £1.3 million refurbishment was funded with Wellingborough Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund, alongside £600,000 for bedrooms and £300,000 for ground floor upgrades. It features 34 en-suite rooms, three function rooms, and a restaurant. Currently closed, it's marketed to hospitality operators and developers.
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Isle of Anglesey hotel sold to Mirza Real Estates

🏨 Valley Hotel, Isle of Anglesey, sold to Mirza Real Estates. The 19-bedroom hotel, dating back to the 1800s, was under Anglesey Inns since 1993. Mirza plans to heavily invest over the next year. Anglesey Inns thanked supporters for their 32 years. Christie and Co managed the sale. Mirza, also owning Tre-Ysgawen Hall, aims to continue the hotel's legacy and enhance its success. Staff praised, especially manager Rob.
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DoubleTree by Hilton London West End completes £4m refurb

🏨 DoubleTree by Hilton London West End wrapped up a £4 million refurbishment in early 2026, adding 14 new rooms and suites, boosting capacity to 275 rooms. The revamp, which began earlier in the year, includes redesigned lobby and restaurant spaces, featuring The Writing Room Bar and Lounge inspired by the Bloomsbury area. This expansion aims to attract families and leisure travelers with split-level duplex suites and deluxe rooms.
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Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park appoints Philippe Kronberg as GM

📘 Philippe Kronberg will join Mandarin Oriental as general manager of Hyde Park, London, and assistant vice-president operations on 12 January 2026. Kronberg will also oversee Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Paris, and Amsterdam. The Amsterdam hotel will start as a Mandarin Oriental on 14 January. Previously, Kronberg was at Shangri-La in Muscat, Oman, and has extensive experience in Australasia, Turkey, China, Thailand, and Brisbane. A French and Australian national, he holds an executive MBA.
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ECE acquires two UK extended-stay hotels amid regional expansion

🏨 ECE Work and Live acquired two Staybridge Suites hotels in Liverpool and Newcastle, UK, as part of its strategy to expand into regional cities. The transaction marks the first step towards building a portfolio of seven to eight hotels, with an investment of up to £150 million. The Liverpool hotel, opened in 2008, has 132 rooms; Newcastle's, opened in 2009, has 128 rooms. Cycas Hospitality manages both properties. Maya Capital sourced and manages the assets.
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Whitbread targets 2,200 hotel rooms across Outer London

🏨 Whitbread plans to add 2,200 Premier Inn rooms across Outer London, targeting 17 locations, including Peckham Rye and Stratford. No new hotels have opened there since 2022. James Hall leads site identification, aiming for conversions and new-builds. Whitbread already operates 85,500 rooms in the UK and Ireland, aiming for 98,000 by 2030. Long-term, they target 125,000 rooms. Expansion responds to demand from leisure and business customers.
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