Athenaeum owner to develop lifestyle hotel in Soho

The freehold owner of the Athenaeum and Sheraton Grand London Park Lane hotels has submitted plans to transform three buildings in London's Soho into a high-end lifestyle hotel.

Documents submitted to Westminster City Council reveal plans for a 176-bedroom hotel with rooms of "generous sizes" to be built across Film House, Mentorn House and 20 St Anne's Court on Wardour Street.

Sir Richard Sutton Settled Estates, which owns and and manages properties on behalf of the Sutton family, plans to redevelop the buildings which currently serve as offices, subject to planning permission. The documents say the company has "a desire to extend" its portfolio of high quality hotels.

The six-storey hotel would have two ground-floor restaurants, one standalone and one within the hotel, the latter of which would have 160 covers in the restaurant and 95 in the bar.

The property would also feature a 224-cover rooftop restaurant and bar, and a gym and conference facilities in the basement.

The proposals suggest retaining the masonry and art deco elements of the existing buildings with new build elements at the rear.

Westminster City Council's planning applications sub-committee recommended planning be granted subject to conditions.

Design and architecture studio MoreySmith is overseeing the project.

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