Hilton and Gama Holdings Sign Deal to Bring Tapestry Collection to London Bridge in £12 Million Hotel Transformation

Hilton (NYSE: HLT) and Gama Holdings have signed a franchise agreement to reposition the 153-room London Bridge Hotel as London Bridge Hotel, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, marking the lifestyle brand's first flag in the UK capital and Hilton's ninth brand represented in London. The property at 8–18 London Bridge Street is expected to reopen in early 2028 following a more than £12 million transformation.

Deal Structure and Renovation Scope

Gama Holdings has owned London Bridge Hotel for more than 30 years, making the announcement a rebranding and refurbishment rather than a change of ownership. Hilton's involvement is structured as a franchise agreement, consistent with the company's capital-light, fee-based model. The property was built in 1998 and last underwent a major renovation in 2013, placing the forthcoming capex program roughly 15 years after the previous renovation cycle.

The more than £12 million investment across 153 keys translates to approximately £78,000 to £85,000 per room in renovation spend. The transformation will reconfigure the ground floor with multiple premium food and beverage outlets, with operations handed to hospitality partner Individual Restaurants. The hotel will also feature garden vault rooms among its guest room offerings.

Simon Elias, president of Gama Holdings, said: "Having owned London Bridge Hotel for more than 30 years, it is incredibly rewarding to see the property enter this exciting new phase. We believe Hilton is the ideal partner to help realise our vision for the hotel's future, and we are delighted to introduce Tapestry Collection to London. This partnership combines the character and heritage of the hotel with the strength of one of the world's leading hospitality companies, and I am confident it will be something we can all be proud of for many years to come."

Location and Demand Profile

The hotel sits adjacent to London Bridge Station at 8–18 London Bridge Street in the London Bridge submarket of SE1, placing it within walking distance of The Shard, Borough Market, Tower Bridge and the South Bank cultural district. The micro-location draws from a mixed demand base that includes corporate offices in the surrounding SE1 corridor, heavy commuter and regional rail traffic through London Bridge Station, and leisure footfall from Borough Market and the South Bank year-round. Hilton noted the hotel is expected to benefit from strong corporate and leisure demand.

Tapestry Collection's UK and Ireland Expansion

The London Bridge signing is part of a broader push by Hilton to grow the Tapestry Collection brand across the UK and Ireland, where the portfolio is expected to reach six hotels by 2028. Tapestry Collection by Hilton is a portfolio of more than 200 independent hotels globally, each positioned to reflect the character and culture of its destination while offering access to Hilton's distribution network and the Hilton Honors loyalty program.

Four Tapestry Collection properties are currently open in the UK and Ireland: The Samuel Ryder Hotel St Albans, Elmbank York, The Marcus Portrush in Northern Ireland, and Dover Marina Hotel & Spa. Two additional signings have been announced in Plymouth and Cork, both expected to open in 2027. The Plymouth property, New Continental Plymouth, is a historic asset built in 1865 slated for full renovation with 120 rooms on Millbay Road. The Cork City Centre hotel will offer 103 rooms, including extended-stay accommodation with kitchenettes, on South Terrace in central Cork.

Christian Charnaux, executive vice president and chief development officer at Hilton, said: "London and the broader UK and Ireland region continue to present tremendous opportunities for growth, and this signing is another great example of how we are driving value for owners and strengthening our network effect around the world. Through our partnership with Gama Holdings, we are delighted to introduce Tapestry Collection to the city, further expanding our lifestyle portfolio in one of the world's most important travel destinations. This signing builds on the strong momentum we are seeing across our brand portfolio in the region and reflects continued demand from owners for the scale, commercial engines and industry-leading returns that Hilton delivers."

Outlook

The signing ceremony took place in New York and was attended by Paul Blackmore, vice president of development for UK & Ireland at Hilton; Simon Elias, president of Gama Holdings; Elizabeth Scruggs, brand leader for Tapestry Collection by Hilton; Christian Charnaux, executive vice president and chief development officer at Hilton; and Simon Vincent, president of Europe, Middle East & Africa at Hilton.

Guests at the repositioned property will have access to the Hilton Honors loyalty program, including the ability to earn and redeem points and access member benefits when booking through Hilton channels. The London Bridge Hotel is expected to welcome guests in early 2028 upon completion of the renovation program.

Sources: Hilton Stories – Tapestry Collection by Hilton Arrives In UK Capital With London Bridge Hotel Signing