Hotels (Commonwealth Union)_ More than 50 years after launching his iconic business career in London, Sir Richard Branson is set to open his first hotel in the city of his birth. The highly anticipated Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch will mark Branson’s entry into the capital’s hospitality scene, adding to his extensive portfolio under the Virgin Hotels Collection.
Located at 45 Curtain Road in the vibrant East End, the 120-room hotel is set to open its doors in August. Currently operating as the Mondrian Shoreditch, the property will be rebranded as Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch on August 1, with plans for a gradual transformation to fully embody the Virgin Hotels experience. This hotel will be the eighth Virgin Hotels location in the UK and the 17th globally, joining renowned destinations such as Necker Island and the Ulusaba game reserve in South Africa.
The new Virgin hotel will boast a variety of upscale amenities, including the Spanish restaurant BiBo, a rooftop bar, pool, private members club, gym, and treatment rooms managed by Ibiza’s Blue Marlin. While room rates have not yet been disclosed, the hotel promises to deliver the unique and luxurious experience that has become synonymous with the Virgin brand.
Expressing his excitement, Sir Richard Branson stated, “We’re all absolutely delighted that Virgin Hotels Collection will be opening a Virgin hotel in London. Since the inception of Virgin Hotels, we’ve had our sights set on London; a place that so many of our customers either call home or name as one of their favourite destinations – and of course where Virgin’s story started.”
Branson also highlighted the brand’s long history of innovation in the travel industry, from Virgin Atlantic’s renowned in-flight experience to the expansion of Virgin Hotels across major global cities. “Our success comes from identifying where we can make a difference,” he added. The London opening is a response to the feedback from Virgin Atlantic customers who have long requested the same level of service on the ground as they receive in the air.
With the launch of Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch, Branson continues to disrupt the travel and hospitality industry, ensuring that the iconic Virgin experience is available to travellers not just in the skies, but now firmly on London’s streets as well.
