Parisian hotelier Jean-Louis Costes is to design a new 40-bedroom hotel on the Cadogan Estate in London's Chelsea. The hotel - One Sloane Gardens – is currently Victorian residential apartments.

Development on site will begin in 2015 with the hotel expected to open in 2016.

Expect super-chic opulence and A-list guests. Costes said the hotel would “reflect his enduring principles of elegance and individual spirit — capturing the best of the cultural and social milieu of the location and moment in time”. Hôtel Costes in Rue Saint-Honoré in Paris (pictured) has been described as having the “sexy velvet cool of a boudoir”.

Durley House joins Belmond Collection


Plans have been unveiled to refurbish, rename and re-launch the Ambassador Hotel in Eastbourne. The new hotel, under the management of Premier Cru, will be renamed The Southdown. It is scheduled to open February 2016.

The Southdown comprises three Grade II-listed townhouses and will feature 30 individually designed, contemporary-styled bedrooms many overlooking a garden square towards the sea. The Southdown will include a brasserie restaurant and bar as well as a 14-seat cinema available for private hire.

The Southdown is located in Howard Square in the centre of Eastbourne.

Details: www.thesouthdown.co.uk


A new venue is planned in the Great Northern Warehouse in Manchester city centre. A disused area in the warehouse is to be converted into flexible space which will accommodate from 50 to 1,000 delegates for parties, conferences, launches and exhibitions.

B.EAT STREET, the company behind the Manchester Food and Drink Festival 2014 will take up permanent residency at Great Northern Warehouse.

Great Northern Warehouse is a Grade II-listed building featuring barrel vaulted ceilings and exposed brickwork. It was built as a railway goods warehouse in 1885. Part of the warehouse has now been redeveloped as a leisure complex including a vintage bowling alley, burger restaurant, cinema and gym.

Great Northern Warehouse is located in Deansgate – around a fifteen minute walk from Manchester Piccadilly station.


The Goring Hotel in London, one of the few luxury hotel still owned and run by the family who built it, has just closed – for the first time in its 105 year history. The hotel is closing in order to put the finishing touches to its total renovation. The new look Goring Hotel will reopen on 21st February 2015.

In the meantime, the Dining Room at the Goring has just been awarded three Rosettes by The AA recognising the Goring for its selection of high quality ingredients, flavour combinations, service standards and its wine list.

The Goring is located in Belgravia, adjacent to Buckingham Palace.

Details: www.thegoring.com

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool is a new hotel opening in the Grade II-listed former Municipal Annexe and Conservative Club at the corner of Dale Street and Sir Thomas Street in the centre of Liverpool. It is due to open April 2015.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool will have 87 modern, stylish bedrooms and suites all with complimentary wi-fi, a brasserie restaurant and bar, a library lounge, an indoor pool plus a fitness centre and spa. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool will have three meeting and banqueting suites; the largest seating up to 220 delegates theatre style.

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool is located in the city centre close to the city's business centre, a short walk from the ACC Liverpool Conference Centre and Echo Arena and less than a mile from Liverpool Lime Street station.

Chef Jean-Christophe Novelli will launch a 120 cover restaurant at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel and Spa Liverpool when it opens its doors in April - called Jean-Christophe Novelli at Michelle. The restaurant will also serve the lounge, conference rooms and banqueting suites.

Details:  www.doubletree3.hilton.com