Mövenpick Hotels Coming to the UK for the First Time with Hampshire Countryside Resort

Switzerland’s beloved hospitality brand Mövenpick is finally making its way to British shores. The hotel group, now part of Accor, has announced plans to open its first UK property in late 2027—a 194-room countryside resort on the Old Thorns Estate in Hampshire.

The property sits on more than 300 acres of rolling Hampshire countryside, roughly an hour from London and convenient to the commuter towns of Guildford and Petersfield. For those unfamiliar with the area, it’s prime territory for exploring the South Downs National Park, which draws over 18 million visitors annually, as well as the famous Goodwood Estate (home to the Festival of Speed) and Cowdray Park Polo Club.

What to Expect

The resort will undergo an extensive two-year renovation before opening, transforming the well-established Old Thorns Estate into something that reflects Mövenpick’s distinctive character. The finished property will feature:

• A championship-level golf course
• Four restaurants showcasing the brand’s culinary heritage
• A new wellness centre and spa
• Over 2,500 square metres of conference and meeting space
• A ballroom capable of hosting more than 500 guests

A Brand Built on Food

What sets Mövenpick apart from other hotel chains is its origins. Founded in 1948 by Swiss restaurateur Ueli Prager, the company started as a pioneering restaurant concept before expanding into hotels. That culinary DNA remains central to the brand today, with food and drink positioned as the cornerstone of the guest experience rather than an afterthought.

The brand currently operates more than 130 hotels across 40 countries and has held recognition as the world’s most sustainable hotel brand from Green Globe since 2017.

Part of a Broader European Push

The UK opening marks another step in Mövenpick’s European expansion, following recent debuts in Poland, Greece, and Italy. For British travellers and Anglophiles planning future trips, it represents a new upscale option in the Hampshire countryside—and for Americans visiting the UK, another reason to venture beyond London into England’s beautiful southern counties.