The Hinduja group has signed a deal with Europe’s largest hotel chain – Accor Hotels Group – to turn the UK’s iconic Old War Office building, once the office of Britain’s war-time prime minister Winston Churchill, into a luxury hotel.
Raffles Hotels and Resorts, the luxury brand that is part of France’s Accor Hotels Group, has announced the signing of an agreement with the Hinduja Group and Spanish firm Obrascon Huarte Lain Desarrollos (OHLD) to transform the building in Whitehall into the most unique hotel and deluxe residences in London.
“The Raffles Hotel in London will be the heart and soul of this exciting landmark destination”, a statement said. “Raffles Hotels and Resorts is delighted to complete its already stunning portfolio with such an exclusive asset in such strategic city and location, the group said in the statement.”
Steeped in history, the first Raffles Hotel was opened in 1887 in Singapore, named after the British statesman and founder of Singapore, Thomas Stamford Raffles.
The Old War Office, with its 1,100 rooms across seven-floors, and two miles of corridors, was completed in 1906.
It was the office to many of the UK’s most important and influential political and military leaders of the twentieth century, notably Churchill, David Lloyd George, Lord Kitchener, Herbert Asquith and T E Lawrence. It was also the offices of the British Secret Service.
Close to 10 Downing Street, the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, the Old War Office was bought by Hinduja Group and OHLD in December 2014 following a public bid.
