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a&o London Docklands Riverside – Image Credit a&o Hostels
a&o Hostels has acquired the former DoubleTree by Hilton Docklands Riverside, marking its first hotel in London and third in the UK.
a&o Hostels has announced the acquisition of the former DoubleTree by Hilton Docklands Riverside, marking the company’s first hotel in London. The property, located on the banks of the Thames in the Southwark district, will operate as a hotel under the a&o brand and is set to open in November. This acquisition is part of a&o’s strategic expansion in the UK, which already includes locations in Edinburgh and Brighton.
The newly acquired property, a 17th-century dockland building, features 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. It will undergo a gradual refurbishment with an investment of £21 million, equivalent to approximately €25 million. Despite the renovations, the hotel will remain open to guests. The purchase price of the property has not been disclosed.
Guests at the a&o London Docklands Riverside will have access to a complimentary electric river cab service, providing transportation to and from Canary Wharf. The hotel is situated less than a mile from the Canary Wharf London Underground station, offering connectivity via the Elizabeth Line. The location is approximately 30 minutes from London City Airport.
The acquisition aligns with a&o Hostels’ broader expansion plans, which include a budget of €500 million for the growth, conversion, and modernization of its properties starting in Spring 2024. The company, in collaboration with owners StepStone Group and Proprium Capital Partners, has secured six new locations, including Milan. Additional target cities for expansion include Glasgow, Dublin, Manchester, Paris, Madrid, and Lisbon.
The a&o London Docklands Riverside will offer a range of room categories to accommodate a diverse guest base, including double, family, and multi-bed rooms. Each room will feature natural light and an en-suite bathroom. The property will also provide approximately 50 underground parking spaces and a riverside bar with views of the city skyline.
With this acquisition, a&o Hostels now operates 44 properties in 30 cities across ten European countries, totaling around 30,000 beds. The company’s core target groups include families, school groups, and individual city travelers.
