Hotel Openings

🍴 Duro Hospitality opened its first concept, The Charles, in 2018 and now includes Mister Charles and a European-inspired steakhouse named The Chumley House, which opened on November 25 in Fort Worth. Partners Benji Homsey and Chas Martin have personal connections to the city. The Chumley House, occupying 3,500 square feet with 90 indoor seats and 25 outdoor, is located on Camp Bowie Blvd near new hotels and the Culture District. The menu features European cuisine with global influences, including Indian dishes, and offers a variety of steaks and a cocktail menu with wines from Napa, Bordeaux, and Burgundy.

🏡 Trafalgar St. James, a 5* lifestyle hotel in central London, opened Rockwell Bistro & Wine Bar and a redesigned lobby as part of a £6m renovation. The hotel will add six new suites in February 2025, expanding beyond the existing 131 bedrooms and three iconic suites. The renovation by Design LSM aims to elevate guests' experience with luxurious design and exclusive amenities. Rockwell offers all-day dining and a curated wine list, complementing the hotel's renowned The Rooftop bar.

🛀 Solent Hotel and Spa in Fareham, part of Daniel Thwaites, completed a six-figure renovation of its wellness space in three months. The refurbishment includes a new pool hall, salt sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, and storm shower with a design inspired by the coastal location. New wellness facilities aim to improve cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and respiratory health. Memberships for 2025 start at £46 per month, with a 15% discount on food and drink at FYR Restaurant in January and February, excluding February 14th and 15th. Nathan Chart and Gemma Barratt emphasize the inclusive and high-quality environment created for relaxation and wellness.

🎉 Foxhills Club & Resort in Surrey celebrated a record-breaking Christmas in 2024 with a 57% increase in Christmas Eve & Boxing Day dining attendance. Hotel bookings jumped 43% with room occupancy and 45% more guests under the Mistletoe and Holly packages. Christmas parties popularity rose by 10%, while New Year's Eve attendance skyrocketed 146%, offering events like a black tie gala and a five-course menu at The Fox dining rooms. Managing Director Tej Walia credits the team's hard work for the festive success.

🏡 The Longfellow Hotel in Portland, Maine, designed by New York's Post Company, is a 48-room boutique hotel operated by Uncommon Hospitality. Influenced by the New England coast's climate and colors, the hotel features interiors that blend contemporary elements with traditional touches, offering turmeric-colored sofas, pale seafoam-green walls, black-and-white penny round flooring, and wide-plank oak floors. The property includes the Five of Clubs bar, Twinflower Cafe, Astraea spa with Scandinavian influences, and a communal lounge on the top floor. Guests can enjoy complimentary bicycle rentals, an electric car service, and eco-friendly initiatives like zero single-use plastics and all-electric appliances. 🌐

🎉 Rick Stein Restaurants celebrate 50 years since the Seafood Restaurant's 1975 opening in Padstow. From February 6-9, 2025, select restaurants, including the original Padstow location, offer a "Rolled Back & Retro Menu" with 1975 prices at lunch—shellfish soup for 50p, grilled lobster at £2.80. Reservations open January 24, 10am, limited slots. Nominate someone for a special lunch at one of 25 tables set aside for community members. 📅🍽️

🍔 Julian Victoria and Jacob Van Nieuwkoop, creators of KURO Coffee and Bakery, will open KURO Bagels in London's Notting Hill in late January 2025. The menu features artisan bagels with seasonal, sustainable ingredients, ready-made options like The Smoked Salmon, and custom choices with a variety of flavours. KURO Coffee opened in 2021 and KURO Bakery in 2022; both are known for Japanese-inspired offerings. KURO Bagels will have a 15-seat terrace and offer delivery via Deliveroo.

🏠 London Marriott Hotel County Hall opened 35 new rooms and suites on 1 January 2025, with views of Big Ben and the London Eye. The Big Ben Balcony Suite and South Bank Balcony Suite are priced from £900/night, Balcony Rooms from £460/night, and Loft Rooms from £300/night, all including breakfast. The hotel's Club facilities also reopened on 1 January 2025, featuring a Technogym-equipped gym open 24/7 and a 25-metre indoor pool with hours 6am-9pm.

🏨 Sonesta Miami Airport completed a multi-million-dollar renovation in November 2024, after starting in June 2024. The design team DiLeonardo, and general contractor HITT, revamped 309 guest rooms, added amenities, transformed public spaces, and provided 7,400-square-feet of event space. Features include a rooftop pool, 24/7 fitness center, and the on-site restaurant Tailwinds with a Latin-inspired menu. The renovation embraces Miami's spirit with art deco details and local flavors, aiming to enhance brief guest stays with a uniquely Miami experience.

🍔 Burger & Lobster, a London-based restaurant group, will open a new location in Brighton in February 2025, their first UK opening in 8 years. Located at 15 Market Street in The Lanes, the restaurant will feature exclusive menu items, including their first-ever brunch options. The group started in 2011 and has since cultivated a following, with plans to expand their UK presence and grow into new international markets.