The world’s first airport hotel, and host to Kings, aviation pioneers and stars of stage and screen, has been acquired by Hallmark Hotels, adding to the group’s portfolio of six 4-star hotels.
The Aerodrome Hotel — a 109-bed hotel in Croydon — was sold by Christie + Co, the leading hospitality business advisor, acting on behalf of David Chubb and Mark Shires of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Joint Administrators for Mainwalk Ltd.
Opened in 1928, the Aerodrome Hotel was designed to be an integral part of the Croydon Airport complex, which was London’s first international city airport. Whilst catering largely for passengers and aircrew, the airport hotel also played host to the leading lights of their day, including King George VI, Amy Johnson, Douglas Fairbanks and Charlie Chaplin.
Arnold Schnegg, CEO of Hallmark Hotels said that the Aerodrome Hotel will undergo an extensive refurbishment programme to upgrade the historic property to a 4-star hotel creating an exiting business opportunity.
The acquisition of this hotel was also strategically important due to the location, improving the Hallmark portfolio and offering more locations for Hallmark clients, with existing hotels in Manchester, Carlisle, Derby, Hull, Gloucester and Bournemouth.
David Creamore, Director at Christie + Co, says: “We’re delighted that Hallmark Hotels has acquired this unique and high-profile property in one of the south-east’s most desired locations. It proves once again that in a market where the chances to acquire freehold properties of this quality are scarce, operators are keen to make the most of these rare opportunities.”