Hospitality giant Whitbread has expanded its presence in London with the launch of a Dexter Moren Associates-designed hotel under its Premier Inn brand in the vibrant Southwark neighbourhood.

Strong demand for Premier Inn-branded properties has led Whitbread to open another site in the UK’s capital city.

Whitbread commits to long-term growth

Whitbread might be the UK’s largest hotel business, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t been affected by Covid19 like the rest of the hospitality industry. However, the company is still planning for long-term success by growing its footprint in key markets, such as London, and has just added a new property in the bustling borough of Southwark.

Derek Griffin, head of acquisitions at Whitbread, said: “Premier Inn has a bright future in London and this latest opening is testament to our confidence in the city, the market, and our product. Covid19 has impacted the hospitality industry in the short-term. But our long-term strategy remains to grow, to be ambitious about securing the best sites in strategic locations, and to identify outstanding opportunities where we know there will be demand for our bedrooms.

“Our new opening at The Cut in Southwark is an excellent example and will be an important destination for leisure and business visitors for years to come. We’re looking to secure more locations like this in 2021 and have live requirements for new hotels in similar locations across London.”

A prime London location

Whitbread’s new hotel was designed by Dexter Moren Associates, which has a long history of creating compelling and inviting hospitality schemes across London. And this Premier Inn is no different.

Trading as Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station), the property is conveniently located just a stone’s throw from Southwark tube station and only a five-minute walk from Waterloo station. With a prime address right off The Cut, known for its theatres and venues, the hotel is split into two volumes connected by a glass bridge, and also boasts the ground-floor Bar+Block restaurant.

Whitbread, which worked with Frogmore on the project, has also created a landscaped common space in front of the hotel that members of the public can enjoy.

Jo Allen, chief executive of Frogmore, said: “We have created something special at The Cut. It’s a fantastic location for a hotel and working with Whitbread, and a brilliant design and development team, we have created a new building that challenges perceptions about what branded hotels can deliver in central London.

“The hotel looks fantastic, it gives back to the community through a new accessible open space, and it has created a secure income stream to clients of LaSalle Investment Management who purchased the investment from us. It shows what can be achieved through effective partnering and I’m extremely proud of what we have created.”

Premier Inn London Southwark (Southwark Station) was built by principal contractor Gilbert Ash, while TowerEight and Gardiner & Theobald project-managed the development.