Actor Robert De Niro, already established as a successful hotelier with The Greenwich Hotel in New York City, is planning to expand his hospitality ventures to London. De Niro has announced a partnership with BD Hotels and Capital & Counties Properties PLC to develop a new property, the Wellington Hotel, in Covent Garden. He will collaborate with longtime partners Ira Drukier and Richard Born, who were also involved in the Greenwich project.
The Wellington Hotel marks the group’s first major project outside the United States, although De Niro is also associated with the Nobu Hotel Manila in the Philippines. The proposed luxury hotel is planned to feature 83 guest rooms, a spa, two restaurants, a café, and a central courtyard designed to complement the character of Covent Garden.
Plans for the Wellington Hotel have been submitted to Westminster City Council and are currently awaiting approval. If permission is granted, construction is expected to begin next year with a projected completion date in 2019. De Niro said the project will “honor the heritage of the area, while bringing the best of what we’ve done in New York to London,” emphasizing a balance between local context and the group’s established standards of hospitality.
Located in a prime retail and cultural district, the hotel will offer close access to high-end shopping and luxury boutiques. Observers note that, if the new property resembles The Greenwich Hotel in atmosphere and service, guests may experience a similar celebrity-friendly environment and a blend of refined comfort and discreet, personalized service.
