UAE retailer to turn London's Scotland Yard into a hotel

Abu Dhabi-based retail major Lulu Group International has made an £110 million (Dh627m) agreement with London developer Galliard Homes to create a 92,000 sq ft 5-star hotel within a refurbished Edwardian building at 1-5 Great Scotland Yard, to be known as The Great Scotland Yard.

The hotel was the location of the original Scotland Yard Police Station and later the British Army recruitment centre for Westminster. This is the second investment by Yusuffali MA in London. Last year he invested in East India Company.

An adjoining Grade 2 Listed Victorian townhouse will be incorporated into the hotel and used to create a magnificent entertaining suite.

The completed hotel will be seven storeys high with two basement levels. It will retain the grand Edwardian Imperial red brick and stone facade with arched main entrance, ornate pediment and tall windows with feature brick and stone detailing. The interior design will be contemporary and stylish, providing a modern compliment to the Edwardian architecture.

“We are extremely pleased to have concluded this deal,” said Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director of Twenty14 Holdings, the hospitality arm of Lulu Group.

“We have been actively evaluating investment opportunities that both grow our footprint and contribute to the further development of London and our interest in the iconic Great Scotland Yard is a step in that direction,” added Ahamed, whos is son-in-law of group founder Yusuffali/

The hotel is scheduled to open in Q1 2017 and will provide employment for up to 250 full time staff. Construction on site is now 30 per cent complete with the interior fit-out scheduled to start in March 2016.

The hotel site has a fascinating history. Between 1829 and 1890, Great Scotland Yard formed part of the headquarters of the newly founded Metropolitan Police force. It was here that the famous Plaistow Marshes (1864) and Jack the Ripper (1888) crimes were investigated and Scotland Yard was made famous by novelists including Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In 1910 the current Edwardian building was constructed on the site and served as the British Army Recruitment Office and Royal Military Police headquarters. It is here that Lord Kitchener famously told WWI recruits "Your Country Needs You". In 1982 a refurbishment introduced a new atrium and the building later became the Ministry of Defence Library until 2004.

“The Great Scotland Yard is really an important part of the fabric of London and it will be a great opportunity for us to be a part of the culture and legacy of this great city and help in its development,” added Adeeb Ahmed, who is also the CEO of Lulu Exchange.

Twenty14 Holdings is the newly set up hospitality arm of LuLu Group International, focusing on acquisition and management of assets around the globe. The entity has over Dh1 billion worth of assets in the Middle East, UK and India.

The company is currently working on setting up its newly acquired property at Business Bay in Dubai, slated to open in October 2015 and also jointly owns the Sheraton Oman Hotel in Muscat with Al Hashar Hotels, a 230-key five-star hotel which is currently under renovation.

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.