UK: Operator Staycity Group will open a 145-room Wilde aparthotel in the former Odeon cinema in Oxford city centre.
In summer last year, Oxford City Council revealed plans to invest £37 million into the redevelopment of the Odeon cinema at 38-40 George Street into a community hub and aparthotel.
Plans involve replacing the existing structure with an energy efficient building. Staycity will operate the aparthotel under its Wilde brand, while Makespace Oxford will manage the 400 square-metre community space.
Work will be carried out by Marick Real Estate with completion set for the end of 2027.
Simon Walford, UK development director for Staycity, said: “We are very excited to be opening a Wilde in the historic and popular city of Oxford and in such a key location as the Gloucester Green area, which is close to shops, restaurants, bars and theatres. The aparthotel will make a huge contribution towards the city’s need for more overnight accommodation.
“Our design-led Wilde brand, the first of which opened in London’s Covent Garden in 2017, was originally inspired by the celebrated Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde so it seems particularly fitting to be opening in the city where he was himself a student,” Walford added.
Andrew Heselton of Marick said: “This is fantastic news for Oxford and supports the council’s policy to encourage more hotels to open in Oxford city centre to boost the city’s economy.”
Further expansion will see Staycity operate more than 15,000 apartments by 2028. The company’s portfolio currently features 5,400 apartments across 33 locations in Europe.
