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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Rob Davies

The billion-pound battle over Claridge’s hotel from Belfast to Qatar

Paddy McKillen Claridge Credit Suisse Qatar Belfast Maybourne Luxury Barclays
International flags outside the entrance and facade to Claridge's hotel building, Mayfair, Westminster, London, UK
Claridge’s is owned by the Maybourne Hotel Group, part of the growing empire of prestige assets belonging to the ruling elite of Qatar. Photograph: CAMimage/Alamy

As the Covid-19 pandemic ripped through London in spring 2020, the revolving doors at Claridge’s stopped turning and its art deco lobby fell silent.

The 220-year-old luxury Mayfair hotel, whose guests have ranged from Mick Jagger to Winston Churchill – and which was a favourite lunch spot of Queen Elizabeth II – fell foul of government guidelines that ordered venues to shut as part of efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

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