Bhatias poised to buy Blackstone’s City hotel

Doubletree by Hilton EC3The Bhatia family is in advanced talks to buy the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel near the Tower of London, EC3, for more than £300m.

Blackstone is selling the asset, which both London & Regional and Host Hotels have also been competing to purchase. The price paid for the 582-bedroom hotel would equate to more than £515,000 per bedroom.

The sale is one of the largest in the London hotel market this year and would mark a key disposal by Blackstone from the portfolio of Mint hotels it bought for £600m in 2011.

From 12 August: Blackstone mints last hotel sale in SW1 >>

The portfolio of eight hotels was bought from Lloyds Banking Group after Mint breached a loan covenant and the assets were subsequently given various Hilton brands.

The Bhatia family, headed by matriarch Gulshan Bhatia, is expanding its already well-established London hotel portfolio which includes the Hilton London Paddington, W2, and the Waldorf Hilton, Aldwych, WC2.

Eastdil Secured is acting for Blackstone.

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