a&o London Docklands Riverside Names Carolin Paarmann as General Manager

a&o Hostels has named Carolin Paarmann as General Manager of a&o London Docklands Riverside, the company’s first property in London. The property opened in late November and is located in a 17th-century dockside building in the Southwark district on the south bank of the River Thames.

The property is scheduled to undergo a phased modernisation programme beginning in 2026. Upon completion, it is expected to offer approximately 500 rooms and 2,100 beds. Renovation and modernisation work will take place across three building complexes on the historic dockside site. a&o plans to invest approximately €20 million in this programme while keeping the property operational.

Paarmann has held positions in the United Kingdom, Australia, Scotland, and Wales, and completed a management trainee programme with a&o, working in Hamburg, Amsterdam, and Berlin. She has been based in London since 2015.

The property features London’s first electric ferry, which operates every ten minutes as a complimentary river taxi for guests between the hotel’s private pier and Canary Wharf Pier. The crossing takes two minutes. Buckingham Palace and Big Ben are reachable within 30 minutes by Underground. London City Airport is about a 30-minute drive from the property.

Amenities at a&o London Docklands Riverside include a riverside bar overlooking the wharf and an underground car park. The property is situated in a distinctive historic building, consistent with the company’s stated preference for such sites.

Paarmann expects the hostel to achieve an average occupancy rate of around 65% in the first half of 2026 and estimates around 180,000 overnight stays in 2026.