Claridge’s isn’t just another five-star hotel; it’s woven into London’s cultural fabric. For more than 160 years, the Art Deco landmark has hosted monarchs, movie stars, and political heavyweights. Winston Churchill once called it an “annex to Buckingham Palace,” and that sense of grandeur has never quite faded. But the question of who actually owns Claridge’s today is far less romantic than its reputation.
The simple answer: Claridge’s is run by the Maybourne Hotel Group, which itself is controlled by Qatari investors led by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, Qatar’s former prime minister. In other words, behind the polished Maybourne brand sits the financial weight of the Qatari royal family.
That neat summary, though, hides a turbulent backstory—full of legal battles, billionaire feuds, and a shift in ownership that says a lot about how London’s trophy assets have been carved up in recent decades.
From Family Business to Global Stage
Claridge’s story begins in 1856, when William and Marianne Claridge bought a modest hotel in Mayfair and set out to attract European aristocrats. Their timing was perfect: by the late 19th century, it had become the preferred stopover for royals, cementing its place as a byword for refinement.
In 1893, the property was snapped up by Richard D’Oyly Carte, the impresario behind the Savoy Hotel. He tore down the old building and in 1898 opened the glamorous Art Deco version we know today. Claridge’s soon became part of the Savoy Hotel Group alongside The Connaught and The Berkeley.
Through the 20th century, ownership shuffled between private families and corporate groups, and eventually into the hands of Irish investors. Renovations followed, as did the sale of the Savoy itself, leaving Claridge’s and its sister hotels rebranded under a new umbrella: the Maybourne Hotel Group.
The Legal War That Changed Everything
The most dramatic twist came in the 2010s. Paddy McKillen, an Irish property developer with a reputation for spotting undervalued assets, had poured time and money into Maybourne’s hotels. But his partnership with Qatari investors soured.
What followed was a long, bitter, and very public legal battle. McKillen argued he was being squeezed out; the Qatari side, led by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim (often referred to as HBJ), pushed to consolidate control. Court filings revealed just how high the stakes were: ownership of not just Claridge’s, but a portfolio of ultra-prestige properties that could shape Mayfair’s future.
By 2015, the Qataris had won. HBJ’s consortium took full control of the Maybourne Hotel Group. For McKillen, it was the end of the road; for Qatar, another jewel in a crown that already included Harrods and a sizeable stake in Sainsbury’s.
Maybourne Today: More Than Claridge’s
On paper, Claridge’s sits under the Maybourne Hotel Group. But the group has evolved well beyond its London base. Alongside The Connaught and The Berkeley, it now operates:
- The Emory in London (a striking, modernist project in Belgravia)
- The Maybourne Beverly Hills in Los Angeles
- The Maybourne Riviera overlooking the French Riviera
This expansion suggests the Qataris aren’t simply hoarding assets. They’re actively pushing the Maybourne brand onto the global luxury stage—though some critics argue it risks diluting the unique identities of hotels like Claridge’s.
What Qatari Ownership Means for Claridge’s
The practical upside is clear: money, and lots of it. The Qatari backing has funded one of the most ambitious hotel redevelopments London has ever seen. Claridge’s has quietly grown upwards and downwards—new floors added on top, an entire subterranean spa complex dug beneath, all while the hotel kept running. The bill reportedly ran into the hundreds of millions.
Financial security on this scale frees the hotel from the quarterly pressures that publicly listed companies face. Management can focus on heritage and service, knowing that the cheques will clear. At the same time, the ownership raises questions. Can a London institution, so steeped in British tradition, truly remain the same when its ultimate fate lies with foreign investors whose interests may be as much about geopolitics as hospitality?
A London Icon, with Global Strings Attached
Claridge’s endures. Guests still check in expecting discreet service, exquisite interiors, and a kind of glamour that feels almost out of time. But the reality is that this very British symbol is now part of a much larger global portfolio, shaped by Qatari ambition and capital.
Whether that’s a problem depends on how you see it. For some, foreign investment has preserved and upgraded Claridge’s, ensuring its survival in a brutally competitive luxury market. For others, it’s another example of London’s landmarks being sold off to the highest bidder.
Either way, one thing is certain: the battles over Claridge’s ownership may be finished, but its role as a stage for wealth and power—played out behind the gleaming Art Deco façade—continues.