Restaurant group D&D to open its first hotel in London

D&D London is to make its debut in the hotel market, with a boutique property in the City of London, it announced today.

The restaurant group has signed a deal with Frogmore to develop and operate an 80 bedroom boutique hotel at South Place, off Moorgate in the heart of the City.

The 72,000 sq ft new building will feature a number of restaurants and bars and will be designed by architects Allies and Morrison with the interiors by Conran & Partners.

Plans include a Bar and Grill on the ground floor and a seventh floor rooftop restaurant and bar with an outdoor terrace overlooking the City skyline.

Des Gunewardena, chairman and CEO of D&D London said: “This will be D&D’s first hotel. I think it’s a gem of a site and especially after our Great Eastern experience I am very confident that we can make a success of it. We are also very pleased to be working with Frogmore. I have known Paul White and his team for many years. They understand our aspirations for the site and I am sure will prove excellent development partners for us.”

The development is set to begin in 2010, with a view to opening in 2012.

D&D London is 49% owned by Des Gunewardena, David Loewi, their management team and financial backers, and 51% by Conran Holdings. The group currently owns and operates 30 restaurants in London, Paris, Copenhagen, New York and Tokyo.

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By Emily Manson 

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