Berlin-based AMANO Group and its joint venture partner Excellion Capital have secured planning permission to convert Waterman House in central London into a 73-room boutique hotel, expanding the hospitality brand’s footprint in the capital’s West End.
The consent, granted by Westminster City Council, will allow the redevelopment of the long-vacant office building at 41 Kingsway into a new AMANO-branded hotel, alongside a ground-floor food retail offering intended to improve street-level activity in the area.
The project is being delivered through Manex Properties, the joint venture between AMANO Group and London investment firm Excellion Capital. Manex is controlled by the Habermann, Süsskind and Rokeach families, while operations are led by Robert Stafler and Ashley Marks.
The approval marks a significant step in the regeneration of Waterman House, a nine-storey, 25,000 sq ft property situated close to Covent Garden and London’s Theatreland. The building has remained empty for more than a decade and has fallen into disrepair.
The redevelopment will see the office asset converted into a lifestyle-focused boutique hotel with 73 guestrooms, representing an increase from the original plans announced when the property was acquired in September 2025.
According to the developers, the revised consent improves the operational design of the building while also reconnecting it with its original architectural character.
Waterman House sits around 50 yards from Hotel AMANO Covent Garden, the group’s first London hotel, creating what the company describes as a growing hospitality cluster in the West End.
The location places the new development within walking distance of theatres, museums, universities and major office occupiers across Covent Garden, The Strand and Bloomsbury.
Philip Rokeach, Director, AMANO Group, said:
“Our vision to bring Berlin’s flair to London was already validated by the exceptional performance of Hotel AMANO Covent Garden. Securing planning consent for Waterman House was an important next step in expanding our AMANO brand in the city.”
The addition of Waterman House will strengthen AMANO’s position in London’s competitive boutique hotel market, where demand for lifestyle-led accommodation continues to grow despite wider pressures across the commercial property sector.
The two neighbouring hotels are expected to operate under a shared management structure, allowing the business to combine staffing, hospitality services and operational resources.
Guests staying across the London portfolio will also gain access to an expanded offering of rooftop bars, restaurants, coffee shops and event spaces.
Once complete, the AMANO estate in London is projected to reach a value of approximately £150 million.
Robert Stafler, Director at AMANO UK & Manex Properties, said:
“Securing planning permission is a major milestone. The approval enables our office-to-hotel conversion and increases the room count to 73 keys. It improves building design, operational functionality and street-level presence. We are delighted to start the restoration of Waterman House later this year to bring this long-derelict landmark asset back to life.”
The scheme reflects a broader trend across central London, where older office buildings are increasingly being repurposed for hospitality and mixed-use developments as investors respond to changing workplace demand and stronger tourism recovery.
Hotel AMANO Covent Garden, located nearby in Drury House, was itself converted from office use after Manex secured planning permission following its acquisition in 2018. The hotel opened as the first AMANO-branded property in London and now includes 141 guestrooms, Penelope’s restaurant, the AMANO Lounge Bar and a rooftop venue overlooking the capital.
Founded in Berlin, AMANO Group owns, develops and operates 15 hotels across major European cities. The business has built its reputation around contemporary design-led accommodation aimed at urban travellers seeking premium lifestyle experiences.
Excellion Capital, meanwhile, is a London-based investment and real estate advisory firm specialising in structured finance and operational property sectors including hotels, pubs, schools and care homes.
Construction work on Waterman House is expected to begin later this year, with the project set to further reshape a prominent stretch of Kingsway as investment in London’s hospitality sector continues to gather pace.
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