Signature Living seeks investors for Belfast hotel

The Signature Living Group – the Liverpool-based developer behind plans for a George Best-themed hotel in Belfast – is now seeking investors for a new development in the centre of Belfast.

The group was in the news early this month when it acquired the Scottish Mutual Building from the Hill family for an undisclosed sum.

Now, Signature Living is advertising investment opportunities in a new luxury hotel which, it says, it will develop on the site.

Investment packages in the new ‘Baronial Hotel’ start at £80,000.

The building was sold to Signature Living by the Hill family who also own Galgorm Resort & Spa near Ballymena. The Hills had intended to develop a boutique hotel on the spot, but it is understood they will now be focusing on further development of their Fratelli Italian restaurant brand in Belfast.

Signature Living – which has already acquired the historic Crumlin Road courthouse building in Belfast – has said it will invest £15m to develop the Scottish Mutual site as a hotel.

Lawrence Kenwright, the founder of Signature Living, said recently that the Scottish Mutual Building would be transformed into a luxury boutique hotel which would preserve the heritage of the old building, which was completed in 1904.

“The building is currently in a state of disrepair and we will be focusing on sympathetically restoring this stunning Scottish baronial style landmark building back to its former glory and architectural beauty,” he added.

“By committing £15m to the project, we see this as an investment in Belfast and Northern Ireland’s flourishing tourism industry. We want to bring new hotel experiences to the city for international tourists as well as domestic and business tourists.”

Signature Living has already developed a hotel in Liverpool themed around Bill Shankly, a former manager of Liverpool FC.