BT Tower to become hotel after £275m sale to MCR

BT Tower will become a hotel following a £275m sale announced on Wednesday (February 21).

BT Group has sold the London landmark to MCR Hotels which, it says, will "preserve BT Tower as an iconic hotel".

Tyler Morse, CEO and owner of MCR Hotels, said: “We are proud to preserve this beloved building and will work to develop proposals to tell its story as an iconic hotel, opening its doors for generations to enjoy.”

BT operations that were traditionally provided from the tower are now delivered via fixed and mobile networks. The tower’s microwave aerials were removed more than a decade ago, as they were no longer needed to carry telecommunications traffic from London to the rest of the country.

Brent Mathews, property director for BT Group, said: “The BT Tower sits at the heart of London and we’ve been immensely proud to be the owners of this important landmark since 1984. It’s played a vital role in carrying the nation’s calls, messages and TV signals, but increasingly we’re delivering content and communication via other means. This deal with MCR will enable BT Tower to take on a new purpose, preserving this iconic building for decades to come.”

MCR Hotels owns about 150 hotels, including the historic landmark Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Hotel in New York City. Payment for the sale will be made over multiple years, as BT Group equipment is removed from the building.

BT Tower, in Fitzrovia, was opened for operations in 1965 by prime minister Harold Wilson. It was open to the public until 1971, with a restaurant making use of the revolving top floor.

Since 1984, BT Tower has been operated by BT Group, with its top floor regularly hosting corporate and charity events, and its “infoband” screen regularly displaying messages across London.