L'Oscar Hotel London to be first of new hotel collection

L'Oscar Hotel London will open on 23 May and will be the first of a number of properties under the brand name.

The 39-bedroom hotel is being developed in a Grade-II-listed Baptist church in Holborn by Triangle Hotels & Resorts at a cost of around £40m, with Michael Voigt as general manager and Tony Fleming as executive chef.

Some of the public spaces, which will include the Baptist Grill in the former chapel and Café L'Oscar, will open next month, while the bedrooms will launch on 11 June.

The luxury, theatrical interiors have been designed by French designer Jacques Garcia, known for his work in Paris at the Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, the Hôtel Odéon Saint Germain, and Hôtel Costes.

The London property will become the brand's flagship of a collection of 10 L'Oscar hotels set to open over the next 10 years. Properties are being explored in Scotland and Berlin, Germany.

"Every day you walk into a room and think this is quite a place," said Voigt, speaking to The Caterer. "Now it's moving on I'm so pleased, the whole team is so excited that it's happening."

The hotel has so far recruited 100 staff for 130 positions and will be holding an open day at the end of the month to recruit for the remaining positions, which include room attendants, commis chefs and waiters.

Mariano Bianchino has joined the hotel as restaurant manager from the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, having previously worked at the Square in London and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Lina Zazeckyte has joined from the Connaught as head housekeeper, and Theo Dubroy from the Arch London is head concierge.

Voigt will continue his role as education officer of the Institute of Hospitality following the opening of the hotel.

Hotel L'Oscar in Holborn secures £24m funding >>

Tony Fleming to depart South Place for new boutique hotel >>

Michael Voigt leaves the Arch London to join new luxury hotel >>

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