Ruby Hotels announces first UK property

Munich-based Ruby Hotels is set to open its first property in the UK in January 2020 with the launch of a hotel in London’s Southbank.

The new 76-room hotel, Ruby Lucy, forms part of the company’s plan to open 11 new properties – including a second in London, in Clerkenwell – by 2022.

Located within walking distance of Waterloo train station, the hotel will feature a “carnival” theme inspired by Southbank’s fairs, markets and theatre scene. It will offer a 24-hour bar, communal work station and a library.

A communal space will serve breakfast without the need for a kitchen or chef, and rather than in-room minibars and room service, the hotel will feature galley kitchens, vending machines and ironing stations.

Guest rooms at Ruby Lucy will range in size from ‘Nest’ rooms (14-15sqm) to ‘Loft’ rooms (21-23sqm) and will be equipped with Ruby Hotels’ signature soundproofing, blackout curtains, linen and extra-long and wide custom mattresses.

They will also feature a Marshall amp, which guests can use with their own guitar or one borrowed from hotel reception, as well as a personal tablet computer pre-loaded with Ruby Hotels’ curated London city guide and social media apps.

According to the company, its hotels offer what it calls ‘lean luxury’, with choice locations and high-quality fittings at affordable prices.

Michael Struck, founder and CEO of Ruby Hotels, commented: “This works because we accommodate luxury in a relatively condensed space, similar to luxury yachts, and we forego unnecessary services. Thanks to proprietary technical innovations, we plan, build and organise ourselves differently from conventional hotels. To be precise, we plan and build in a very modular way and centralise as well as [automate] processes behind the scenes wherever possible. This helps us create a luxurious and unique hotel experience at an affordable price.”

Ruby Hotels currently operates three properties in Vienna, one in Munich (pictured), two in Dusseldorf and one in Hamburg. The company plans to open new locations in Zurich, Helsinki, Cologne, Frankfurt and Shanghai by the end of 2020.