Anoushka Hempel buys Blakes back

@font-face { font-family: "Arial"; }@font-face { font-family: "Barclays Sans"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }The hotel been purchased out of administration for around £20million by Mr Navid Mirtorabi and Mr Meir Abutbul who are both hoteliers and investors.

The iconic 51-room Blakes was created by designer Anouska Hempel in 1981 and broke the mould of hotels. Blakes, alongside two other hotels launched in 1981 created the concept of boutique hotels and started new sector in the industry.

Meir’s first business in the UK was the traditional Boulanger-patisserie café chain apostrophe, and owns two other hotels in London. Navid owns several other hotels in London.

Meir Abutbul, who is the Director of the new management company Blakes Management Limited said:
“Blakes is spectacular, it looks sumptuous, but we have some improvements in mind and Anouska Hempel will be in charge of design and styling. We are also planning on expanding the Blakes brand internationally.”

Nick Worthington, Relationship Director at Barclays Corporate which provided finance for the purchase said:
“The London boutique sector continues to perform very strongly, and the opportunity that an expansion of Blakes presents is a compelling one. It is great for us to be working alongside Navid and Meir as they take Blakes to the next level”.


 The refurbishment programme, which will include the addition of a gym and an extended restaurant, will refresh and reinvigorate the Blakes concept. Carefully chosen and executed with Anouska Hempel’s exacting vision, the design will offer a seductive global exploration through India, Thailand, China, Jakarta, Cambodia, Egypt and Italy. The luxurious, bohemian ambience will combine light and dark, past and present, with intrigue and drama.

http://www.blakeshotels.com/