Whitbread’s Vauxhall Premier Inn will turn Phoenix House opposite Vauxhall Station into a 180-room hotel, with completion scheduled for the end of 2027. Legendre UK will lead the conversion, bringing the budget hotel brand to the area for the first time.
Strip-out work has already started after Whitbread secured planning permission. Main construction is due to begin later in 2026.
How Phoenix House will change
The conversion will retain the former office building’s existing structure while replacing its office layouts with hotel rooms and shared guest facilities.
| Project detail | Plan |
|---|---|
| Building height | 10 storeys |
| Floor area | 80,000 square feet |
| Environmental target | BREEAM Excellent certification |
The bedrooms will include Premier Plus rooms, while work on the existing mezzanine will create a restaurant and reception area. BREEAM is a widely used system for assessing the environmental performance of buildings.
Phoenix House forms part of the St George Wharf mixed-use development near the River Thames. Its position across from the station will place guests close to public transport and the surrounding riverside district.
Why the Vauxhall Premier Inn matters to Whitbread
The property gives Premier Inn its first hotel in Vauxhall and supports Whitbread’s plans to expand across central London.
Whitbread’s five-year growth plan identifies the capital as a target market for both Premier Inn and its smaller-format hub by Premier Inn brand. The company already operates more than 100 hotels within the M25 and has identified 40 London locations where it wants to grow.
The new property converts an existing building rather than replacing it with a new structure. Phoenix House was built in the early 2000s and acquired by Lambeth Council in 2004.
Lambeth Council keeps a long-term interest
Whitbread will oversee the conversion and lease the completed hotel from Lambeth Council for 30 years.
The council will retain its longer-term leasehold interest in the property. Whitbread agreed terms for the Phoenix House lease in March 2025 before obtaining planning approval and starting the initial strip-out.
Lambeth Council used the building as offices until 2019. It has remained largely vacant since then, allowing the site to be repurposed without demolishing its main structure.
Hotel plans include permanent jobs
The completed property is expected to create about 25 permanent hospitality jobs in Vauxhall.
Whitbread also expects guest spending to bring additional year-round business to the immediate area. The combination of accommodation, a restaurant and a reception area will return the largely unused building to regular commercial use.
What travellers should watch next
Travellers gain a new budget hotel option opposite Vauxhall Station once the conversion is complete.
For now, the end of 2027 is a construction target rather than a confirmed opening date. Room rates, an exact opening day and booking availability have not been announced, so travellers should wait for Whitbread to publish those details before planning a stay.
