Construction work has begun to create a new 221-bed seafront hotel in Brighton.
Contractor CField Construction has broken ground on the new hotel on behalf of developer and investor Topland – one of the UK’s largest privately-owned real estate groups.
The hotel, which will be operated by Dalata Hotel Group, Ireland’s largest hotel group operating 50 hotels in Ireland, the UK and Germany. This will be operated under its Maldron brand and is part of a wider Topland-owned hospitality scheme at Brighton’s seafront. The site also includes the 323-bed Hilton Brighton Metropole which is currently undergoing refurbishment. Topland’s total commitment to the Brighton projects will be in excess of £55m.
The standalone new build, which will be the first Maldron in the south of England, will retain a series of Grade II-listed facades and include a bar and dining facilities, an open courtyard at ground level along with cycle storage.
The development, due to complete in 2024, reaffirms Topland’s commitment to the wider UK hospitality sector having recently provided a £16.5m lending facility secured against the LaLiT Hotel in Tower Bridge through its structured finance division. The Grade II-listed building has been converted into a 70-bed five-star hotel in the heart of London. Topland also owns Bath’s iconic Grade I-listed Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa.
William Davies, director in the asset management team at Topland Group, said; “Alongside the major refurbishment underway at the adjacent Metropole, this new hotel will breathe new life into the Brighton seafront and provide a high-quality guest experience that will ultimately drive local growth. We’re looking forward to partnering with Dalata on a long lease basis as we continue to support a range of operators and the re-emergence of the hospitality sector following the pandemic.”
Sol Zakay, chairman and CEO of Topland Group, added: “The significant capital involved in this project, coupled with the strength of our structured finance division, highlights our commitment to the UK hospitality sector despite current headwinds. As market conditions continue to prove challenging, it’s important that we look beyond the end of this cycle, push ahead with our plans, and support those of our clients across a wide variety of sectors – standing ready to deploy additional capital and boost growth where possible.”
