Maybourne
A British luxury hotel group operating landmark hotels in London, Beverly Hills, and the French Riviera.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Maybourne is a British luxury hotel operator whose portfolio is built around highly individual, historic properties rather than a standardized international hotel format. Its core London collection comprises Claridge's, The Connaught, and The Berkeley, three landmark hotels associated with Mayfair, Knightsbridge, and the capital's long-established luxury hospitality culture. The group also operates The Emory in London, The Maybourne Beverly Hills in California, and The Maybourne Riviera on the Côte d'Azur. The business traces its corporate history to the former Savoy Hotel Group, which brought together The Savoy, Claridge's, The Berkeley, and The Connaught. The properties themselves have much older histories. The Connaught originated in 1815 as the Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel and adopted its current name in 1917. Claridge's opened in its present identity in the late nineteenth century and became particularly associated with its Mayfair location and Art Deco interiors, while The Berkeley developed into a major Knightsbridge hotel. The Maybourne identity emerged after an Irish-led investment group acquired the former Savoy group in 2003. The Savoy hotel was subsequently sold, leaving the three other properties as the foundation of the renamed group. The remaining hotels required substantial investment, and the ownership undertook extensive restoration and redevelopment. The Connaught was closed for a major refurbishment in 2008, adding updated accommodation, an Aman spa, an underground pool, and new food-and-beverage facilities. Claridge's underwent an unusually complex basement expansion beneath an operating hotel, with the works completed in 2022. The Berkeley received a contemporary façade and new suites as part of its continuing modernization program. Maybourne's development was also shaped by a prolonged ownership and financing dispute. Debt connected with the 2003 acquisition was initially provided by Anglo Irish Bank and later transferred to Ireland's National Asset Management Agency after the financial crisis. The loans were subsequently sold to the Barclay brothers, owners of The Ritz London, prompting an attempted takeover and years of litigation involving shareholder Paddy McKillen. McKillen ultimately lost the principal legal actions, while the ownership interest associated with the Barclay family was later transferred to the Qatari royal family. McKillen ceased to be a shareholder but continued to provide consultancy services, according to the referenced account. After concentrating on London for much of its development, Maybourne began international expansion. In December 2019 it acquired the Montage Beverly Hills, its first hotel outside the United Kingdom, and rebranded the property as The Maybourne Beverly Hills. The group subsequently expanded its named portfolio to include The Maybourne Riviera in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and The Emory in London. Across the portfolio, Maybourne positions itself around architectural character, discreet personalized service, high-end dining, bars, wellness, and destination prestige. Its properties generally combine historic identity with contemporary design and significant behind-the-scenes investment rather than presenting a uniform visual template.
History
Maybourne's corporate lineage begins with the Savoy Hotel Group, a British luxury-hotel business that historically included The Savoy, Claridge's, The Berkeley, and The Connaught. Although the company is modern, its principal assets have substantially older institutional and architectural histories. The Connaught was established in 1815 as the Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel and was renamed in 1917 in honor of Prince Arthur, the Duke of Connaught. Claridge's became established in its present form in the late nineteenth century, while The Berkeley's modern Knightsbridge property dates from the twentieth century. In 2003, an Irish investment group led by Derek Quinlan acquired the Savoy group from Blackstone and Colony Capital. The Savoy was later sold to Kingdom Holding because it did not fit the new owners' intended strategy, leaving Claridge's, The Berkeley, and The Connaught as the central assets of the renamed Maybourne group. Paddy McKillen took a leading role in the redevelopment of the remaining hotels. They required extensive restoration, and the resulting strategy was to preserve their individual identities while upgrading rooms, public spaces, restaurants, bars, and wellness facilities. The Connaught was closed for approximately a year for restoration and reopened with refurbished rooms, a new wing, an Aman spa, an underground swimming pool, and prominent restaurants. Claridge's underwent a particularly ambitious engineering and planning program: several basement levels were excavated beneath the hotel while normal hotel operations continued. The work, associated with architect Michael Blair and major planning approval, was completed in 2022. The Berkeley likewise received a prolonged program of renovation, including a contemporary façade designed by Richard Rogers and new pavilion penthouse suites designed by André Fu. The group's ownership became entangled with the collapse of Anglo Irish Bank during the Irish financial crisis. Financing for the original purchase was connected with the bank, and the loans were transferred to Ireland's National Asset Management Agency. NAMA later sold the loans to the Barclay brothers at their stated value plus accrued interest. The transaction preceded an attempted takeover of Maybourne and a bitter legal conflict with McKillen. The dispute lasted several years and involved multiple court proceedings. McKillen did not prevail in the principal cases and ultimately ceased to be a shareholder, while the relevant ownership interest was later transferred to the Qatari royal family. The referenced account states that McKillen continued to advise the group. Maybourne subsequently pursued geographic expansion beyond its historic London base. In December 2019 it purchased Montage Beverly Hills in Los Angeles and announced that the property would become The Maybourne Beverly Hills. The group also developed or added The Maybourne Riviera in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and The Emory in London. Its operating model remains focused on a small collection of high-prestige hotels, each with a distinct design language and local identity. The portfolio combines accommodation with restaurants, bars, spas, pools, suites, and tailored guest services. Maybourne therefore competes in the ultra-luxury segment through heritage, service intimacy, culinary reputation, and property-specific experience rather than through a large standardized room network.
- 2022
Claridge's basement project is completed
[1]A major multilevel excavation and development beneath Claridge's is completed after being conducted while the hotel remained open.
- 2019
Maybourne enters the United States
[1]Maybourne acquires Montage Beverly Hills and announces its rebranding as The Maybourne Beverly Hills.
- 2017
The Berkeley unveils a redesigned façade
[1]The Berkeley introduces a major contemporary façade designed by architect Richard Rogers.
- 2008
The Connaught reopens after major restoration
[1]The Connaught returns after a year-long closure with restored accommodation, wellness facilities, a pool, and expanded dining.
- 2003
Irish-led investors acquire the Savoy Hotel Group
[1]A group led by Derek Quinlan purchases the former Savoy Hotel Group, setting the stage for the Maybourne identity.
- 1917
The Connaught receives its current name
[1]The Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel is renamed The Connaught after Prince Arthur, the first Duke of Connaught.
- 1898
Claridge's opens
[1]Claridge's opens in Mayfair and later becomes known for its Art Deco interiors and luxury hospitality.
- 1815
The original Connaught hotel is established
[1]The hotel that later became The Connaught opens as the Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel.
Products and positioning
Ultra-luxury hospitality emphasizing historic landmark properties, architectural distinction, personalized service, celebrated dining, and discreet exclusivity.
Luxury hotel · 1898
Claridge's
Maybourne's Mayfair flagship is associated with Art Deco design, an internationally recognized lobby, high-end suites, celebrated restaurants, and long-running royal and celebrity patronage. Its redevelopment included a complex basement expansion carried out beneath the operating hotel and completed in 2022. The property continues to combine historic public rooms with updated accommodation, wellness, and dining facilities.
Luxury hotel · 1815
The Connaught
The Connaught is Maybourne's historic Mayfair hotel, originating in 1815 as the Prince of Saxe Coburg Hotel and renamed in 1917. Its major restoration added renovated rooms, a modern wing, an Aman spa, an underground pool, and prominent restaurants. The Connaught Bar has received international recognition, while the hotel also hosts dining associated with chefs including Hélène Darroze and Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Luxury hotel · 1972
The Berkeley
Located in Knightsbridge, The Berkeley is a major Maybourne hotel known for contemporary design layered onto an established London luxury-hotel identity. Its renovation program included a Richard Rogers-designed façade and pavilion penthouse suites by André Fu. The property includes fine dining, the Blue Bar, and restaurant operations associated with chef Marcus Wareing.
Luxury hotel · 2019
The Maybourne Beverly Hills
The Maybourne Beverly Hills is the group's first hotel outside London. It is the renamed Montage Beverly Hills, acquired by Maybourne in December 2019 as part of an international expansion strategy. The property extends Maybourne's London-centered luxury positioning into the Los Angeles market.
Luxury hotel
The Maybourne Riviera
The Maybourne Riviera is Maybourne's Mediterranean property in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France. It broadens the group beyond its historic British base while retaining the portfolio's emphasis on distinctive architecture, destination setting, luxury accommodation, and personalized service.
Luxury hotel
The Emory
The Emory is a Maybourne hotel in London and forms part of the group's later-generation portfolio. It complements the heritage properties with a more contemporary luxury-hospitality proposition while remaining within Maybourne's London operating base.
Brand decisions
2019
Acquire Montage Beverly HillsM&ABackground
Maybourne sought to expand internationally after building its London portfolio around three established luxury hotels.
Action taken
The group acquired Montage Beverly Hills in December 2019 and announced that it would operate under the Maybourne name.
Aftermath
The acquisition created Maybourne's first operating presence outside the United Kingdom and extended the brand into the Los Angeles luxury market.
2008
Reposition The Connaught through comprehensive restorationGeneration changeBackground
The Connaught required substantial refurbishment as part of the broader modernization of Maybourne's London properties.
Action taken
The hotel closed for about a year and reopened with restored rooms, a new wing, an Aman spa, an underground swimming pool, and expanded restaurant facilities.
Aftermath
The project reinforced The Connaught's position as a modern ultra-luxury hotel while preserving its historic identity.
2003
Separate the Savoy from the remaining hotel portfolioStrategyBackground
After acquiring the former Savoy Hotel Group, the new investors determined that The Savoy did not fit the intended strategy for the remaining properties.
Action taken
The Savoy was sold to Kingdom Holding, leaving Claridge's, The Berkeley, and The Connaught as the core assets that developed into Maybourne.
Aftermath
The divestment enabled the group to concentrate capital and management attention on three London luxury hotels and their extensive restoration.
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