Global site navigation

London's iconic BT Tower sold to become hotel
Economy

London's iconic BT Tower sold to become hotel

by  AFP 1 min read
The BT Tower in central London is set to be transformed into a hotel
The BT Tower in central London is set to be transformed into a hotel. Photo: Daniel LEAL / AFP/File
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: "AI for Journalists: Power Up Your Reporting Ethically" FREE Online Workshop by Rianette Cluley, Briefly News Editor-in-Chief. REGISTER NOW

British telecoms giant BT Group announced Tuesday the sale of its famous BT Tower and that the building located in the heart of London will be transformed into a hotel.

The London-listed company has agreed to sell the building for £275 million ($347 million) to New York-based MCR Hotels.

"MCR Hotels... plan to preserve BT Tower as an iconic hotel, securing its place as a London landmark for the future," BT said in a statement.

A number of operations that were traditionally provided from the listed building are now delivered instead via fixed and mobile networks.

"We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy," said Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels.

Read also

The Body Shop to shut nearly half of UK shops

The building, originally called the Post Office Tower, was completed in 1964 and officially opened one year later by then-prime minister Harold Wilson.

PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Briefly News on your News Feed!

The tower is 177 metres (580 feet) in height, or 189 metres including aerial rigging.

It originally included a revolving restaurant on the top floor and a panoramic viewing gallery.

However, this was closed after a bomb explosion in 1971 on the 31st floor that caused significant damage but no casualties.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: