Work has officially begun on a £170million redevelopment of Luton Hoo, designed to make it a contender for golf’s 2035 Ryder Cup, with owner Surinder Arora saying the estate’s transformation represents a “huge statement of intent”.
The two-and-a-half year project, which brings together golfing greats Gary Player and Justin Rose to shape a new championship course, is central to The Arora Group’s ambition to establish the 1,100-acre estate on the edge of Luton as one of the UK’s most prestigious sporting and hospitality destinations.
The redevelopment was formally launched yesterday with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Arora and Accor chairman and CEO Sébastien Bazin. The two companies are partners in the scheme that will see the property relaunch under Accor’s Fairmont Hotels & Resorts brand — joining a luxury portfolio that includes The Savoy in London and Fairmont Windsor Park, also owned by Arora.
Mr Arora said: “Luton Hoo’s heritage is exceptional, and we are incredibly proud to commence the redevelopment that will bring this stunning estate back to its full glory and potential. To have the artistic vision of Kim Partridge Interiors shaping our guest experience, alongside golf legends Gary Player and Justin Rose designing our course, is a huge statement of our intent to create something truly special and enduring for the UK.”
The extensive overhaul will see the Grade I-listed mansion and estate reimagined as a world-class resort combining its historic character — it famously hosted Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their honeymoon — with contemporary luxury and cutting-edge facilities.
At the heart of the plans is a new 18-hole championship course designed with input from Player, Rose and the Ryder Cup Europe team. The layout has been revised to improve spectator viewing and ensure it meets the highest standards for hosting major tournaments, as part of Luton Hoo’s bid to stage the Ryder Cup in 2035.
It would be one of four English venues in the running to host the event, alongside The Belfry, London Golf Club in Kent and a new proposed course at Hulton Park in Bolton. The last Ryder Cup to be held in England was at The Belfry in 2002.
Interior specialists Kim Partridge Interiors will lead the redesign of the hotel’s rooms and public spaces, blending historic architecture with Fairmont’s signature contemporary style.
Luton Hoo closed last week to allow work to begin, with a message to guests promising that “the next chapter will be worth the wait”.
The Arora Group has said the redevelopment will deliver major social, heritage and economic benefits for the local area, creating new jobs and reaffirming Luton Hoo’s place as one of Britain’s most storied country estates.
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