Goldman Sachs’ B&B Hotels opens first UK location

Goldman Sachs-owned B&B Hotels has opened its first UK hotel near London’s Heathrow Airport. In February this year, the French budget hotel chain leased the 119-bed Arora Park Hotel on Bath Road in Colnbrook, Berkshire, and, following major renovation work, has rebranded it as a B&B Hotel. The hotel chain aims to grow its presence in the UK to 100 hotels by 2035. In July 2024, the chain expanded its UK portfolio by adding five new locations in Birmingham, Derby, Inverness, Ipswich and Warrington. These premises are undergoing refurbishment and are yet to open to the public. Founded in 1990, B&B Hotels now has a network of 870 hotels across 17 countries, including premises in Europe, Brazil and the US. In July 2019, B&B was sold by French private equity firm PAI Partners to Goldman Sachs for approximately €1.9bn (£1.6bn). Patrick O’Connell, chief executive of B&B Hotels UK, said: “We are energised to roll out our signature B&B Hotels product and experience to our other UK hotels and customers across the coming months along with our continued UK expansion activities.” Photo © B&B Hotels