Hempel to buy back Blakes?

Anouska Hempel, designer, actress and founder of London's Blakes hotel, is believed to be buying the property back from its Malaysian owners.

Lady Weinberg, as Hempel is now known, opened the trendsetting Blakes hotel in South Kensington in 1981, but sold it on to Atlan Holdings of Malaysia in 2004 for a reputed £18m. She is now rumoured to be on the verge of regaining control of the hotel for an estimated £22m. The hotel was unavailable for comment.

Andrew Horder, director of hotels at property agent Savills - which has advised Atlan Holdings since it acquired Blakes - also declined to comment "at this stage".

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