UK: Investor, developer and operator Dominus, in partnership with alternative investment manager Cheyne Capital, have secured approval from the City of London Corporation to transform Ibex House into a 382-room hotel.
Ibex House, located at 42-47 The Minories, is a Grade II-listed Art Deco building in the City of London.
Led by Studio Moren, plans include transforming the vacant office into a full-service hotel. Amenities will include 50,000 square feet of public space, a conference centre with a ballroom, and flexible meeting rooms, alongside adding a new café and renovating the currently closed ‘Peacock’ pub.
The ground floor will include the creation of an on-site hospitality academy, working in partnership with The Springboard Charity. The academy will offer training and employment pathways for local people with a focus on those who face barriers to employment. It is expected that the hotel will employ more than 160 people once operational.
The hotel is due to open in late 2028 and will be operated in-house by Dominus, becoming the group’s sixth hotel in the portfolio.
Preet Ahluwalia, CEO of Dominus, said: “Drawing on our development and operational expertise, we will transform this vacant office building into a landmark hotel that will celebrate its Art Deco design. Our plans include opening up the ground floor with a pub, café and hospitality academy as part of our commitment to creating exceptional spaces that deliver long-term value.”
Hamish Gordon, director in Cheyne Capital’s real estate team, said: “The plans for Ibex House preserve the character of this landmark building while supporting the City of London’s Destination City ambitions and long-term economic growth. That is why we are pleased to continue our partnership with Dominus on a project that combines heritage restoration with the delivery of a high-quality hotel asset.”
Farran Keenan, senior architect at Studio Moren, said: “This iconic Art Deco building set a benchmark for office design when it was built nearly 80 years ago. While the office space has since become tired and underused, the elegance and enduring appeal of its character remain. Our vision for architecture and interior design places the preservation and celebration of its Art Deco heritage at the heart of its transformation into a contemporary landmark hotel.”
Highlights:
- Dominus and Cheyne Capital have secured planning approval to convert the Grade-II listed Ibex House from vacant office space into a 382-room full-service hotel.
- Studio Moren is leading the design, with plans for 50,000 square feet of public space, including a ballroom, conference centre and flexible meeting rooms, alongside a new café and the restoration of the Peacock pub.
- An on-site hospitality academy, in partnership with The Springboard Charity, will provide training and employment pathways for local people.
- The hotel is expected to create more than 160 jobs and open in late 2028.
- It will be operated in-house by Dominus, becoming the group’s sixth hotel.
