St Ermin's reopens by welcoming the world's press for Royal Wedding

The four-star de luxe, 331-bedroom St Ermin's hotel has opened in London following a four-month, £30m refurbishment.

Situated close to Westminster Abbey, the property welcomed its first guests two nights before the Royal Wedding and acted as a media centre for 150 national and international journalists throughout the celebrations.

Senior communications manager at London & Partners (formerly VisitLondon) Chloe Couchman said she was delighted to work with the newly refurbished hotel.

"For London as a city, it was incredibly important to highlight to the world's media that London is a city which is able to facilitate and aid every type of press coming to the capital for major events - from print to TV and radio," she said.

"Not only did St Ermin's provide a fantastic contemporary space with outstanding facilities, it also highlighted just how prepared London is for the next 12 months."

The hotel's staff, led by general manager Douglas McHugh and director of sales and marketing Stuart Leckie, was on call throughout the day of the wedding from 7am offering large screen TVs, boosted Wi-Fi, ISDN and CAT5 lines and computer terminals.

St Ermin's was bought a year ago by a partnership of US-based property company Amerimar Enterprises and London-based Gracemark Investment and Angelo, Gordon & Co from Spanish hotel group NH Hotles for £65m. The new owners have signed an agreement with Accor UK and Ireland to operate the hotel as an independent property within the MGallery collection of hotels.

The hotel's new restaurant, the 70-seat Caxton Grill, where head chef Hus Vedat will offer an all-day dining menu, will open at the end of this month.

London's Jolly St Ermin's hotel sold for £65m >>

St Ermin's closes for four month £30m transformation >>

St Ermin's to become Accor's first MGallery hotel in London >>

By Janet Harmer

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