Robert De Niro plans luxury hotel in London

US actor Robert De Niro is involved in a project to build a new luxury hotel in the heart of London, he has revealed.

The 83-room Wellington Hotel project, if approved, would be built in Covent Garden and is expected to feature a spa and two restaurants.

"London is one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the world," the 72-year-old star said in a statement released Saturday.

"It makes perfect sense to develop a hotel that represents all of that in the heart of this city in Covent Garden."

De Niro, whose films include "Taxi Driver", "Raging Bull" and "Goodfellas" is working with property firm Capco Properties and hotel company BD Hotels on the venture.

BD Hotels is behind some of New York's top luxury hotels, including The Greenwich Hotel, which is co-owned with De Niro, and The Mercer.

The London project has not yet been given planning approval by local officials but construction is expected to start next year if it is, with a projected completion date of 2019.

Source :AFP