David Beckham is set to open a London-themed hotel in China next year, complete with recreations of landmarks and sights like Big Ben, Bond Street and black cabs.
The football superstar and husband of Victoria Beckham is the face of The Londoner Macau, a hotel that is set to bring a slice of London to Macau in 2020. Every inch of the property is modelled on iconic London sights from the exterior, which looks like Westminster and the Houses of Parliament (with a mini Big Ben), to the glass atrium lobby which has the look and feel of Claridge's of London. Even the grounds and gardens are inspired by those at Kensington Palace.
The hotel's shopping district will also transport visitors to the UK capital, particularly the designer stores of Bond Street, Mayfair and Saville Row and the small boutiques typically associated with Soho, Covent Gardens and Portobello Road. Guests can even get around by black cab or take part in a recreation of the 'Changing of the Guard' or famous sporting events like the Ascot horse races.
The project is part of a collaboration between Beckham and the Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which is rebranding its current Sands Cotai Central on Macau’s Cotai Strip. Not only is the former footballer the face of hotel, he's also working with a London interior design firm on the aesthetic of two concept suites. And his close friend, the celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, will play a part in dining by heading up an English-style gastropub that will serve classic British fare like Sunday roast dinners and fancy fish and chips.
"London is an incredible city and one that I am proud to call my home," Beckham said in a statement. "To be able to work so closely with the Sands team to bring the elements of London that I love to the city of Macao is a wonderful opportunity. Interior design is a real passion for me so to be involved in the design process and help shape this project is another important step in our long-standing partnership with Sands Resorts Macao."
The Londoner will also open with an arena for concerts and sporting events, three spas, 20 dining options, four health clubs, and 13 ballrooms. The exact opening date has yet to be announced but you can stay up-to-date with news here.
