Iconic Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton sold to Jurys Inn owner
The Grand Harbour Hotel has been acquired by the Fattal Group from operator Westmont. Rapidly-expanding Fattal bought the Jurys Inn group in 2017 and now operates 44 hotels in the UK and Ireland under two brands – Leonardo Hotels and Jurys Inn. The new owners say the Grand Harbour will be rebranded as a Leonardo Royal Hotel “but will retain its renowned ambiance following the acquisition”.
The hotel will be officially called the Leonardo Royal Hotel Southampton Grand Harbour.
Opened in 1994, the 173-room Grand Harbour Hotel, situated on the Southampton waterfront, features 173 rooms and suites, and two dining rooms – Marco Pierre White, and the Hamtun Bar and Bistro.
It has 13 meeting and event rooms with a total capacity of 500, plus a spa and gym.
The hotel, with its eye-catching glass pyramid over the entrance, began life as the five-star De Vere Grand Harbour.
However, in 2009 the hotel lost one of its stars.
It was also the city’s biggest hotel under the opening of the 230-bed Jurys Inn in Charlotte Place.
Recent online reviews also suggest the hotel had “lost some of its shine”.
It has also seen increased competition in recent years, particularly in the function market, from the Hilton at Ageas and the Harbour Hotel.
David Fattal, CEO of Fattal Hotel Group, said: “We are delighted to have acquired the Grand Harbour Hotel in Southampton, which is another step in our strategic plan to extend our foothold in the UK and to position the group as one of the UK’s most significant hotel owners and operators.”
Jason Carruthers, managing director of Leonardo and Jurys Inn Hotels UK and Ireland, said: “This is a truly exciting time for the group as we expand our offering in the UK with this iconic luxury hotel in a key city like Southampton.
“We continue to look to grow and strengthen our portfolio and hotel network, and will pursue further appropriate and commercially attractive new development and acquisition opportunities as they arise. We look forward to working together with the employees at the Grand Harbour Hotel to deliver exceptional experiences for our guests and drive the performance of the hotel.”
The Leonardo Hotels brand is a recent entrant into the UK hotel market, with eight hotels in the country but more than 150 properties across several major European cities.