The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell, London

Orca Holding acquires The Zetter Group

Mark Sainsbury and Michael Benyan, the restaurateurs behind The Zetter Group, have sold the company they founded 18 years ago to Orca Holding – a specialist hospitality investor owned by entrepreneur Laith Pharaon.

The sale includes The Zetter Hotel – billed as London’s original ‘Eco-hotel’ – as well as the group’s Zetter Townhouses, which Orca Holding intends to retain and grow; the firm is actively looking to open more properties in London, across the UK and in key European cities such as Paris, Madrid and Amsterdam.

“We are extremely proud of the culture of The Zetter Group, the unique hospitality brands we created and the impact they had on London’s vibrant hotel, restaurant and cocktail scene,” says Benyan on the pair’s success since opening The Zetter Hotel in 2004. “The fact that Orca Holding are passionate about The Zetter brand and have such exciting plans for its future, is great news for all involved and we wish them every success.”

The cocktail lounge at The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell in London, UK
The cocktail lounge at The Zetter Townhouse Clerkenwell

Laith Pharaon, CEO of Orca Holding, comments: “We see huge growth and development potential in The Zetter Group. This has been a difficult year for most hotels but the properties were previously achieving great success in their respective segments. This acquisition presents an opportunity for more strategic expansion of The Zetter brand and will benefit from Orca Holding’s global hotel development experience.”

Savills advised The Zetter Group on the transaction, while Siggis Capital will now asset manage the group.

CREDITS
Headline Photography: © Darren Chung