a&o Hostels, has expanded its presence in the UK with the opening of a&o Brighton, its second property in the country. This new location, the chain’s 39th across Europe, is situated in the center of Brighton, providing guests with views of the Brighton Pier and access to the city's attractions.
The hostel is housed in a historic Regency-era building from 1819, which has previously served as a hotel. a&o Brighton offers 50 rooms with a total of 186 beds, featuring a Victorian-style lobby bar and a restaurant. As part of its commitment to sustainability, a&o Hostels focuses on repurposing existing buildings, and the Brighton location was most recently used as a youth hostel. The company aims to be Europe's first net-zero hostel chain by 2025.
"The property is a true gem, and we are extremely excited about this special new addition to our European portfolio" "The building carries an incredible history, great architecture, very good accessibility and of course a superb location with plenty to be explored". - Oliver Winter, Founder of a&o Hostels.
The Brighton hostel is open for guests and plans to undergo further renovations with a 1.45 million euro investment during the winter months. This opening follows recent expansions, including a&o Rotterdam in 2022 and a&o Edinburgh City in 2021, with a&o Firenze Campo di Marte in Florence set to open later this year.
"We want sustainable growth with locations and properties that work in the long term and will be attractive destinations for our guests for years to come. We don’t have set criteria for the size of the properties we open, more so the potential to open locations which have heart and soul." - Oliver Winter, Founder of a&o Hostels.
a&o Hostels operates with the motto “Everyone can travel,” providing affordable accommodation in central locations across Europe. In 2023, the chain hosted 2.7 million guests and recorded 6.1 million overnight stays. Their hostels are designed to cater to a diverse range of travelers, including families, solo travelers, couples, school groups, and business travelers, offering amenities such as a bar, guest kitchen, work areas, and WiFi, along with easy access to public transportation.
Currently, a&o Hostels' portfolio includes 39 properties in nine European countries, with almost three million overnight stays recorded in the first half of 2024. The company is planning further expansion with potential new locations in cities like London, Manchester, Dublin, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon.
