NRI all set to buy the Waldorf

The Waldorf on the Strand at Aldwych, right opposite India House, was once the jewel in the crown of the old Forte hotel empire.

The majestic hotel over 100 years old stands in the heart of London’s theatreland and was very popular with British aristocracy.

But if current negotiations go well, this small piece of British heritage could soon be acquired by an NRI. Gulshan Bhatia along with her son Asif has built a fortune of around £70 million as a hotelier, and is the frontrunner to buy the 299-room hotel from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Bhatia couldn’t speak English when she first came to the UK from Tanzania in 1976 with her husband and four children. She used her savings to buy a Bed and Breakfast in Paddington for £190,000 and charged £3 per room.

Today her portfolio has some of the best hotels in the country, including the Great Western Paddington, the Hilton London Paddington and the Hyatt Regency Birmingham.

Bhatia has beaten stiff competition from Qatari, Bahraini and Israeli investors for The Waldorf, and it looks as if the Indian is all set to acquire this lovely property for £185 million. 

When model-turned-actress Elizabeth Hurley married businessman Arun Nayar last year in a wedding extravaganza, the celebrity guests were shocked when they were asked for livestock as gifts.

While obliging their friend’s wish they believed she may be being philanthropic and giving the animals to the needy around the world.

Having nabbed a multi-millionaire Indian husband, she obviously didn’t need any more toasters or jewels. But the truth behind the gifts has now emerged.

Hurley, 45, wanted the livestock to fill her organic farm in Gloucestershire. From this farm, Hurley, who already has her own swimsuit business, has begun yet another money-making venture — organic pre-packaged foods.

By early next year, money-hungry Hurley’s range of “very healthy, low-fat organic foods” will be launched in British shops.

The woman, who sold the rights to her wedding pictures to Hello! magazine for £1 million, says she hopes one day ‘they will dominate the world’. Judging by her track-record of shrewd decisions she is bound to succeed.