Transforming Abandoned Office Blocks Into Hotel | Hotel Rescue | Abode

[@Chillmax]

First 2 minutes - they're nuts, really nuts! Even big hotel chains would struggle to make this a success.

[@jwa7241]

If I was a new hotelier with zilch experience, I'd be over the moon to have Ruth as my mentor and would earnestly listen to her suggestions. More so welcome her questions and concerns.

[@jontaylor1652]

I could watch this Ruth all night, she's great.

[@Gimo76]

This couple is beyond belief. In any project you have to budget then I would say double that minimally. Decor is not just her taste.

[@TherapyTea]

The couple in Margate who listened to Ruth still have a thriving business. It’s interesting to see if the ones who close are the ones who didn’t listen.

[@Chillmax]

At 37:00 you hear the final nails in the coffin, 'huge bespoke mirror with thrones covered in gold crushed velvet'.

[@JVSwailesBoudicca]

Madness on a high level !

[@elainerotelli9185]

What a garish joke this self absorbed and obtuse barrister! Gaudy galore !

[@suzieque9587]

I positively love Ruth’s frank honesty- she cuts to core which is really refreshing

[@maccoll3644]

Red velvet and metallic gold for a modern hotel! Tacky idea of luxury from an unsophisticated person.

[@anna-lisagirling7424]

I have a friend who was brought up in very wealthy cicumstances. Alas, she fell head over heels in love in college for a lovely, sweetheart who ended up working for an auction company almost his entire working life. Lefi reminds me of her when she projects her own perspective of the universe on this project. She has yet to learn anything from someone else, too. Wow, what a cow. These two are successful, attractive, wealthy and utterly in a nasty bubble and they were (as my deceased mother used to say) "cruisin' for a bruisin'" from the the get go. I hate to say this but I was quietly delighted they got their comeuppance. We all have to grow up sometime.

[@elainerotelli9185]

They earned their fate. Don’t apologize for being a realist. Vanity project.

[@apache313]

Did a bank honestly believe he was going to be able to pay these interest payments or were did they make the agreement knowing they would take everything he owns?

[@shastac1396]

Omg this couple is absolutely ridiculous.

[@maccoll3644]

I'm astonished to hear she is a barrister!

[@jenniferblane7550]

Yes but is she .......people can say they are ...anybody can rent a robe and wig for pictures I think she is a grifter ....

[@juliananton7800]

This reminded me why we NEED to hire Design inc for our commercial projects :p

[@jellybeanparis584]

I have run-out of Ruth Watson Shows & am having “withdrawals”

[@ellev11]

@@jellybeanparis584 it's quite addictive indeed and Ruth is very enjoyable 😃

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymore ore

[@artistinlederhosen]

nightmare couple, both deluded. she has horrific taste and when she doesn’t get her way she threatens a lawsuit. some people deserve to fail.

[@kateg7298]

The furnishings screamed bordello and the color choices were mind-boggling. I've never wanted to grab and shake an owner before like I did with her over those chairs.

[@rhondamiller3661]

Amazing project. This could only occur in this calm manner in the U.K. If it were me here in the states, I would have been hysterically screaming at every fall back. Franco looks like he's aged beyond the time frame of this project but boy did he keep a good attitude. Wow. For what it's worth I agree with Ruth on the curtains. LOL

[@thepolitewierdo]

It’s an amazing building! Unfortunately the hotel is closed and the building is being considered for demolition.

[@WainscottClub]

Franco still owns it though, he is now applying to put flats in!

[@justinwhite6787]

@@WainscottClub That would probably be better in the long run, and very cool place to call home too!

[@artistinlederhosen]

such a waste of time, money and effort. if this clueless idiot couldn’t pull this off what makes him think he can do it on even a grander scale? ego is a dangerous thing.

[@thepolitewierdo]

@@WainscottClub I hope he can! How great would apartments be in such a cool building!

[@mujkocka]

For students from poor countries who can’t afford it

[@theakeane]

“I’ll sue you...”. That old chestnut from some bully lawyer type. If I was a criminal, I would hope that “doh” old Lefty was on the side of the prosecution. 😂

[@richardparker7157]

Apparently she does criminal defence work. Can you imagine...

[@virginiamoss7045]

Four months to completely convert an office building to a hotel?! I have to stop and say, with 40 years of working with office properties, that it takes 4 months just to build out new office space for a new tenant, between 2,000 square feet to 10, 000 square feet. This is impossible for whole multi-story buildings. And 700,000 pounds?! No, just ... no. They must not have handicap codes there. How is a wheelchair bound person supposed to enter the reception down those 4 steps?

[@ms.m2173]

This old video. Checking the history and facts, the hotel opened in 2009 and was very good, got excellent reviews on trip advisor and other travel website. It closed around the pandemic and I think the owners just wanted out. So as of June 2022, they are planning to demolish it and build apartment complex with commercial space. Much easier business to run - landlord verses hotel owners.

[@59tante]

Sad

[@maganalia]

Hopefully they decide to hire designers this time rather than her tacky taste.

[@LisaRent]

I stayed in a very expensive, 5 star hotel during construction. It was horrible. But, even during major renovations, people were staying in rooms near the work. Unfortunately, our room was on the other side of the construction zone and we had to walk through plastic sheets, concrete mess, step around appliances and construction equipment. We didn't have working elevators near our room. We were the only people who were in that wing and I think it was actually a mistake that we were there. Oh, and construction sounds started bright and early. You should have seen the faces of the construction workers when they saw us walk out of our room in the morning. LOL The company ended up comping our visit with great apologies. This episode reminded me of that awful night.

[@annaroy1694]

If you chose to stay in a construction site why on earth should they comp you! I'm sure you knew when you booked. Disgusting on your part expecting a handout!

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore .😢😊😊

[@kateg7298]

I googled Icon Hotel and found 3 results. 1. Closed, 2. Top rated hotel in Luton 3. An application to turn the hotel into luxury flats with Franco as the applicant. I'm not sure what happened. Did they close and now they're reorganizing? Does anyone know? Thank you.

[@PattyPaints]

The whole thing was a design disaster. The 'wow! I've arrived' chairs were hideous! They looked like a diy project gone wrong. The crushed velvet made my skin crawl. And what was with the birdcage/torture device chairs, the rusty moped in a fish tank, the car on the roof and on the wall... how did those things fit into their "luxury" boutique hotel dream?? I hope Lefi accepts her part in the failure of the hotel and doesn't foist herself upon the next project. She needs to stick with lawyering and supporting her boy toy's fantasies and leave interior design to the professionals.

[@leefrancis007]

Indian restaurant interior

[@lynnedelacy2841]

I can’t believe all this is to be demolished to create flats Im hoping that they will be able salvage as much as possible

[@cherylpotgieter3801]

a very expensive disaster ..terrible colors, fabrics and tiny rooms..just awful

[@lornahardin4563]

Ruth is just fine, she really cares about these people who know nothing.

[@KNYD]

22.2.2022 Bedfordshire News "Applicant Franco Anacreonte wants to demolish the Icon Hotel in Stuart Street and replace it with an 18-storey building and six commercial units. There would be 102 flats consisting of 21 three-bedroom, 57 two-bed and 24 one-bedroom apartments." 4.7.2022 Luton Today "Plans to turn Luton town centre hotel into flats and retail units approved by councillors"

[@all9115]

Thanks for the update

[@PattyPaints]

Wow... out of the frying pan and into the fire. He obviously didn't learn his lesson.

[@mjkay8660]

seems a studio/office with monthly yearly lease would be far more beneficial without having to change sheets every day.

[@kimberlypfleuger4261]

That chick should have left design up to a professional ! What a waste . :(

[@tenshinseishin]

They have no clue. Disgraceful deadlines and complete lack of planning. The wife is also clueless and thinks she is so clever. Just a nasty little big headed bully. Why do people think they can do something like this with no experience.

[@maryiorio426]

Why does everyone featured have an unrealistic opening date! I feel like these two need a year to have it ready!

[@margaretmcintosh3729]

It's so sad to hear that after all that work, money and expense to hear the building is to be demolished 😢

[@ShellyBomb]

Do you know what happened to the Icon Hotel - and - why did it fail?!? 😮

[@samhillsmithify]

Ruth is the bomb!! Hope the guys health improves. They will grind to success

[@nerobagi]

Did it not occur to anyone (here and in the show)that an ARCHITECT is required to draw up the plans for such a complex project that would significantly save precious time, money and efforts? With all due respect to Ruth's advice and abilities, one still requires a building construction expert and no one better than an expert architectural advise 🤦‍♂

[@lynnedelacy2841]

No one seems to consult any architectural/structural experts on any of these programmes

[@mdmayhem]

Franco looked wrecked at the end of that. And now he wants to demolish it for offices. As a former hotel manager who began a career in hospitality in Germany in the 80's ( I know, right) he'd look worse after years in an industry he was clueless about.

[@soniadennis7801]

How dare she say Routh doesn't know what she is talking about! You can't help some people especially someone up there own ars!

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymoore

[@johnmightymole2284]

Very unlikely to be able to sue for consequential loss.

[@suzieque9587]

Her pronunciation of bespoke as B-spoke 😂and a barrister threatening to sue 😂when things don’t go her way 😅

[@angerjane]

bespoke bedside tables?

[@jewels3895]

Flimsy wall's in hotel You will hear everything in the next room

[@RichieRich1234RICH]

Hope she’s stuck to being a barrister because that interior design is just yuk. It’s like she just went to the worst outlet shop and said anything in brown please. Totally tasteless stuff. Shocking that they were made to measure.

[@MachainAndrea]

It is interesting to see what happened next. The hotel seems to have survived the pandemic but in 2022 the owner applied for plans to demolish the hotel. In 2024, apparently, it is still running as a hotel.

[@akashmukhopadhyay9335]

There are so many stupid people in the world, now thanks to Ruth I've seen two more of them. Thank goodness Ruth came to them otherwise it would have been a colossal disaster & I was very worried about their children. It was extremely obvious they would never be ready even with the third deadline of October forget about July I mean seriously. Ruth was so patient & kind and like always useful. I feel she too was worried about the children

[@annaroy1694]

Calling them stupid basically is a reflection of who you are!

[@Smokeyham]

"Bespoke, Up-Market, Luxurious" All well and good for Lefi to want that, but how many business people staying in Luton will have the expense accounts to cover what the hotel will have to charge to make an adequate return on the investment to reach that level of luxury?

[@psor9983]

who starts their own hotel if they've never even worked in one before. plus you are opening a bar and restaurant. it blows my mind. my friend wanted to start a dog walking business in nyc once and he thought I was crazy when I suggested that he work as a dog walker first for another company before starting his own. He had no idea if he needed insurance, how the business even worked, what to charge etc...

[@angelbulldog4934]

How could there be another two people who are as incapable of running a hotel as these two?

[@DanielCampbell-fc8xf]

Plus if it was in US contractors work 7 days a week

[@rinohorizonte]

What a BAD TASTE. . Red everywhere. Silk and fake velvet next white cheap prefab walls.. Small bedrooms and dark furniture. AWFUL.

[@dudeorduuude5211]

Exactly! Crushed mustard velvet cushion on a red chair? Even 10ish years ago that would have been ugly. The bedrooms were OK, but don't think she knows what luxury looks like.

[@rinohorizonte]

@@dudeorduuude5211 Just pay attention the way she's wearing. She must to understand that isn't her private house. It's a place for other people staying. Should be neutral and generic.

[@leefrancis007]

And those silver tiles..yikes

[@a697ag]

Those chairs were spectacularly awful

[@sonaterese799]

The couple were awful and deluded commoners, who somehow thought they knew better than a professional - well done Ruth

[@donjohn4778]

Plans to turn an iconic Luton town centre hotel into a block of flats and retail units are being recommended for approval by planning officers. Applicant Franco Anacreonte wants to demolish the Icon Hotel in Stuart Street, and replace it with an 18-storey building and six commercial units.

[@primaveraitaly5002]

I wonder where the money is coming from? Very fishy!

[@clementinemonroe717]

Decor horrendous even for that time, tacky

[@oldmanonamission8055]

What happened to the Icon Hotel in luton? Iconic Luton hotel will be demolished and replaced with flats Applicant Franco Anacreonte submitted full plans to demolish the Icon Hotel in Stuart Street, and replace it with an 18-storey and four-storey building

[@mjkay8660]

too bad.. looks like a restaurant/bar with studios upstairs would been good.

[@j.c.linden]

Surely anyone, including the contractor hired would know, the time frame and money projected were not possible. Zero logistical hotel knowledge, zero knowledge of what does make people return to a hotel and these people sunk money anyway. Indeed no one has ever walked into a hotel lobby and said oh I will come back and spend my money here because of the imported floor tiles, or crushed velvet seats! And now I read the hotel is closed and there is a proposal to tear it all down. What a waste of money.

[@LisaNH934]

I cannot imagine the amount if stress this couple endured during this process! Not really my style of decor but then again, not every hotel I have stayed at is my style. I hope they are successful and happy...and a bit more stress-free.

[@rinohorizonte]

The hotel it's currently closed. Building going to tear down to make place an apartment complex next year.

[@LisaNH934]

@@rinohorizonte oh wow! 😢 Sad outcome for this couple but Thank You for the update!

[@skontheroad]

An apartment complex that was approved this month with him as one of the developers, right? This was just one big advertisement for property developers to come in, buy him out, save their asse(t)s, and go in a different direction, I'm sure! The one thing with real estate and apartments vs. hotels--with an apartment, one only has to work to sell it once a year, vs. a hotel, which one has to work every day to find a taker!

[@natashalion8028]

The walls are tooo thin !

[@Weener927]

Albeit the couple is OK, honest and truely themselves: she turned the place into a monument of distaste. I just checked if the hotel was open and if it had become a succes: it is permanently closed. Though the entire plot seems to be worth 5 million right now. So the place is up for demolition and new development is due. It is a place to forget.

[@mujkocka]

Luton is a dump lots of crime. Lots of poor students…

[@janinajurkojc1708]

La la land comes to mind.

[@andrewsanton4977]

We stayed at the Icon several times when visiting Luton, it was lovely and the staff were great. It then got a bit expensive and the Premier Inn opened next door. Sad it has closed and good luck in their plans to convert the site to private flats.

[@kremapeneva9732]

I just checked and saw the hotel is closed... I can't say it was unexpected.

[@sonyamcleod6583]

the interior design is hideous. Shes definitely NOT a designer. Its far from looking like an up market hotel, looks more like a Blackpool B&B

[@Vegan123]

She's a Barrister first (with her funny wig) and a hotelier second.

[@electronlegacy9051]

Maybe if they sold the flash car they would have money for the hotel !!!!

[@capslock9031]

The hotel is closed.

[@rabbitcaroline666]

The arrogance.

[@sclickner]

horrid decor....

[@johnmack537]

Nouveau riche fools!

[@keithhodgson6489]

"Criminal barrister"....."I will sue you cos that's what I do everyday". Really?

[@timward3116]

I can't believe they got a bank loan with no experience or knowldege of the industry. It would have never happened in the US..

[@Victoria-nh9sp]

Vever done b4, no plan, but borrow a fortune...beyond me...but all the same

[@claref7429]

Do they have children? You see them with young children at the start and then no mention of them at all.

[@marytrusel4885]

lefi needs to Isten to Ruth, artist study design, it is not just a matter of taste. lefi is costing franco $$$$

[@Helen-us1ly]

Construction site and not one person yeilding a hammer!

[@TracyLWebb]

I'm sorry things didn't go their way. Some people jump into criticism, but I think that this couple was brave enough to try. Not many people would do the same. I wish them all the best.

[@ashleywallace1165]

Their ignorance and naivety are now well documented.

[@sallieschuetz1796]

Please bring back Sarah Richardson !

[@AbodeHomeChannel]

Hey Sallie! Don't worry, Sarah Richardson will be back soon. we just had to post some alternative content but she should be back in October❤️

[@brocktoon8]

NO, keep Ruth Watson!

[@skontheroad]

Were you guys involved in the production of this series originally? I see in this episode, they worked with and filmed at The Patk Lane. Were you involved with that at all?

[@amywalker3647]

It’s all so tacky.

[@jenniferblane7550]

Do not believe she is even lawyer never mind barrister............

[@ProTroll_UK]

She’s just nasty, sounded common as muck and throwing her ‘legal’ weight around. What an awful person.

[@MS-tw5qv]

Sorry, but red = naf

[@erzr]

this couple are 2.2 million in debt and now on welfare.

[@tobyway5093]

These two don't have any tast. I'm sure he is a good businessman though

[@tomsparks6099]

Ruth Watson is all mouth. I don't get her popularity, celebrity. Anyone can give the same adivce from any angle. She doesn't do anything but yap her opinion.

[@jckonstanz]

So tell us how many hotels you have run or should I say ruined? 🤡

[@funtimeslondon]

Her opinion is the whole point. Even in this difficult episode she suggested they do major things which they took on board.

[@PopGoesTheology]

8:00

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymoore

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymore ore

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymoore

[@gypsy3446]

Yes I agree with the other comment made Ruth Watson is fabulous and I could watch her all day everyday this show is brilliant but I can't find anymore anymore anymoore