Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 6946
WHARF HOTEL PLAN
A PLAN to build a large hotel on the River Thames at Butler's Wharf, London, was revitalised last week when a planning application on the site was made to the London Docklands Development Corporation.
The name of Butler's Wharf is synonymous with that of Sir Terence Conran who operates five restaurants, including Le Pont de la Tour and the Blueprint Café, at the riverside site near Tower Bridge.
Butler's Wharf Ltd was established by Sir Terence to develop part of the old wharf buildings and build a hotel. But the company was forced into administrative receivership in December 1990. Conran Restaurants is a tenant of Butler's Wharf Ltd.
The development company is still in receivership but has not found that a hindrance in commissioning architects and putting forward a planning application for a 335-bedroom hotel with rooftop lounge and bars.
The eight-storey building, designed by Paul Zara of the CD Partnership, would overlook the river on a site between the Design Museum and Butler's Wharf.
ARENA TAKEOVER
ARA Services is likely to take over the catering at the London Arena, Docklands, later this year following the sale of the 12,500-seat venue to SMG International, a consortium of ARA, Hyatt Corporation and Snyder.
The US-owned SMG bought the venue from the receivers of Arena Development Europe, which went into receivership in 1990. The arena cost around £40m to build but no sale price was disclosed.
SMG already manages the Sheffield Arena for Sheffield City Council. ARA Catering has the catering contract at Sheffield Arena and a spokesman for ARA said the company hoped to maintain that relationship at London Arena.
