Yotel

YOTEL has announced plans to open its third property in the UK in late 2018 with a 212-cabin hotel in Central London’s creative quarter of Clerkenwell at 96-100 Clerkenwell Road. Regarded as the epicentre of London’s design and architecture scene and a leader in the UK’s Tech Nation programme, Clerkenwell is ideal for YOTEL’s first city-centre hotel in Europe.

The project, developed by Medina Investments, has already broken ground and is set to open in late 2018.  The hotel will offer 212 cabins which will be equipped with YOTEL’s revolutionary technology-driven hospitality offering.

The compact but luxurious cabins will include YOTEL’s signature space saving adjustable SmartBed™, monsoon rain shower, techno-wall features, which includes mood lighting and entertainment options, with smart TVs.

Additional facilities include a gym, bar, an independently operated dining outlet and YOTEL’s Club Lounge concept, which offers flexible meeting and co-working spaces that will be designed in keeping with the surrounding area.  All cabins and communal areas of the hotel will be served by super-fast and free WiFi connectivity.

YOTEL’s CEO Hubert Viriot, said: “We are more than ready to bring the YOTEL city-centre concept home. Since the opening of our flagship in New York, we have been looking for the right opportunity and we finally found it in Clerkenwell. The mixed-use project, developed by Medina Investments, complements the YOTEL brand perfectly. It’s dynamic, creative and forward-thinking and backed by a developer with acumen and vision.”

Developer Medina Investments will transform the current site into a mixed-use development that will embody YOTEL’s innovative and technology focussed identity, yet sit comfortably within its historically significant surroundings.

Zain Hussain, Managing Director at Medina Investments, said: “We are delighted to be involved in such an exciting project, using our expertise to create an opportunity by looking beyond the obvious to identify undiscovered potential. We have many years’ experience in site acquisition, planning and development and our vision is to expand our investment and development activity with a sustainable strategy. Clerkenwell is a unique area that buzzes with creativity and this requires a similarly creative approach to development. I’ve no doubt that between our talented team and the YOTEL brand – this hotel will be ‘the’ place to stay in the City’s coolest new neighbourhood.”

The Clerkenwell development is funded with capital from ICG-Longbow, who specialises in value-add real estate loans across the UK.

With sustainability and efficiency central to all of the parties involved, the hotel is car-free, encouraging guests to utilise the numerous alternative transport options in the area. Ideally located at the centre of this historic district, the hotel is just a six-minute walk from Farringdon Station, seven minutes to Spa Fields Park, eight minutes to City University London and just a 15-minute walk to the world-famous Barbican Centre for performing arts. The hotel will also be only a few minutes’ walk away from the historic Old Sessions House, newly refurbished public space. The hotel will benefit from the impending arrival of Crossrail to Farringdon Station, set to complete in 2018 and forecasted to be one of the most popular stations on the new line.

Clerkenwell is home to a number of professional services and is rumoured to have the highest concentration of architects and building professionals in the world, many of whom have offices in the area.