Gateley real estate team advises on Gatwick hotel project
THE real estate team at the Birmingham office of Gateley’s is advising a boutique hotel operator on the development of a new facility at Gatwick Airport.
BLOC hotels is building a new 245-room hotel, split over four floors, at the top of the airport’s South Terminal. The multi-million pound hotel, which is set to open later this year, involves the redevelopment of a former office building, Norfolk House.
Birmingham real estate partner, Andrew Mellor, supported by solicitor, James Richards, banking & finance partner, Carol Betts and tax partner, James Gopsill comprise the team working on the deal, which will be BLOC’s second major development after its initial scheme in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
“Having advised on the client’s Birmingham location we are delighted to now be involved in the Gatwick Airport project,” said Mellor.
“The development will be of huge benefit for business and leisure travellers and is certain to improve the passenger experience for users of the airport.”
Commenting on the development and Gateley’s involvement, Rob Morgan, CEO of BLOC hotels, said: “Andrew and his team have been of invaluable help in the take off of this highly complicated project that is set to change the way we understand airport accommodation.”
BLOC hotels pioneered new construction technologies with the opening of their Birmingham property in 2011, using specially commissioned pods. Each room in the new Gatwick hotel will be equipped with the latest Samsung technology, ambient lighting and specially created ‘sleep-zones’ with the highest specification sound proofing.
The hotel operator now has ambitious expansion plans for the future and is considering further projects in major transport hubs and city centres with established infrastructures both in the UK and beyond.
Gateley’s Birmingham real estate team has also recently advised cake and pastry chain, Patisserie Valerie, on the opening of seven new takeaway stores in major London rail terminals. The new outlets are located at Euston, Marylebone, Paddington, Victoria and Waterloo stations as well as two at St Pancras, all on former sites of the French bakery chain, Boulangerie Paul.
