Hotel Openings

🏠 Opening in Spring 2026, Des Gunewardena will launch three venues at the £1.3bn Olympia redevelopment. Located in the 30,000 sq ft Pillar Hall, the investment exceeds £10m. Idalia will seat 300, Pepperbird offers a 70-cover bar, and Upstairs at Pillar Hall hosts over 500. Executive Chef Samantha Williams leads the all-female kitchen team. Designed by Robert Angell, the venue blends historic architecture with modern design, celebrating Olympia's cultural heritage in West London.

🏖 UK: The Gallivant Littlestone Beach, owned by Harry Cragoe, will open in summer 2026 after delays. This Kent-based hotel, part of The Gallivant Hotels portfolio, features 13 bedrooms and a Nordic spa. Originally set for 2023, the site encourages social interaction with flexible dining options. Located near Camber Sands, it was acquired in 2022 and designed by Clough Williams-Ellis, aiming for a private beach house feel.

🎄 Borgo Egnazia celebrates Christmas in Puglia with festive markets, panettone workshops, and themed evenings. On Christmas Eve, guests make panettone; Christmas Day features traditional lunches. Markets run from December 27 to January 4 with themes like "The Colours of Wine" and "The Befana Circus." For New Year's Eve 2025, "Il Circo" event offers theatrical experiences. Rooms start at €480/night, providing an immersive festive experience blending tradition with modern flair. For more details, visit www.borgoegnazia.com.

🏨 Timbre Hotels, a boutique hospitality brand, operates three properties in Porto, Portugal, offering 248 accommodation units. The flagship is Timbre Virtudes, a five-star hotel with 71 rooms in a 16th-century building. Timbre Heroísmo, a four-star hotel with 153 rooms, caters to business travelers. Timbre Boavista features 24 serviced apartments. The brand emphasizes heritage design and wellness, with offerings like guided walks, mindfulness sessions, and personal training. Adérito Oliveira, managing director, notes the focus on Porto's distinctive character.

🏨 Duke Street Boutique Hotel reopened in Liverpool in December 2025, a month after its purchase by Golding Group for £2.25 million. Originally launched in 2021, the hotel briefly went into administration. It features 30 en-suite rooms, with three offering courtyard access. Refurbished to premium standards, it now provides full staffing, a redesigned reception with a resident's bar, and a Breakfast-To-Go service. Room rates start at £50-60 per weekday.

🍴 Fleurette opened on December 10 in La Jolla, San Diego. Helmed by chef Travis Swikard, it offers Mediterranean cuisine inspired by the French-Italian Riviera. The restaurant features a Provençal-inspired garden and a 120-seat space with a 24-seat patio. Signature dishes include bouillabaisse with local fish, fresh pastas, and lobster aïoli. Open Tuesday to Sunday, its bar, led by James Roe, follows local and Riviera inspirations. Sommelier Tracy Latimer curates a predominantly Old World and California wine list.

🍴 La Stella Italian Steakhouse and Music Lounge opened in Addison, Dallas in 2025, occupying an 11,000-square-foot space that housed Lawry's The Prime Rib for over 40 years. Designed by Daniele Venenzoni, it blends Old World Italian and Art Deco styles. The venue, hosting over 400 guests, includes a music lounge for 21+ patrons. Signature dishes include a 40-ounce bistecca alla Fiorentina and Japanese A5 wagyu steak. Expansion plans target Fort Worth.