Amano Group receives green light for 73-bedroom hotel in London’s Covent Garden

Berlin-based Amano Group has secured planning permission to develop a 73-key hotel at the Waterman House office building in London’s Covent Garden.

Manex Properties, the joint venture between Amano Group and London-based Excellion Capital, acquired the 41 Kingsway site in September 2025 and has since received planning permission from Westminster City Council to develop the nine-storey building, which has stood empty for more than a decade.

It marks Amano’s second London property, following on from the 141-key Hotel Amano Covent Garden located opposite, which opened in 2022.

Once complete, the two hotels, which are valued at £150m, will be operated by one team.

Phillip Rokeach, director of 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.”

Robert Stafler, director at Amano UK and Manex Properties, added: “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.”

Amano Group owns, develops and operates a portfolio of 15 hotels across Berlin, Munich, Leipzig, Dusseldorf and London.

Manex is controlled by the Habermann, Süsskind and Rokeach families, and its business is led by Stafler and Ashley Marks. 

Waterman House, which dates back to 1912, was historically the London headquarters of Waterman Pens.