New ‘capsule’ hotel plan for Oxford Five Guys building

Criterion Capital’s Zedwell hotel chain has announced plans to open a hotel in the centre of Oxford as part of a UK-wide expansion.

According to Property Week, Zedwell will convert the 22,000 sq ft, six-storey, Oxenford House at 13-15 Magdalen Street into a hotel.

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The building, which has Five Guys restaurant on the ground floor, is close to tourist attractions including the Ashmolean Museum. The luxury Randolph Hotel is nearby.

According to Property Week, the plans follow Zedwell’s opening of the ‘world’s largest capsule hotel in Piccadilly Circus and the opening of Zedwell Underground Park Lane – the brand’s second subterranean hotel in the UK.

Five Guys on the ground floor of Oxenford House (Image: Oxford Mail)

Halima Aziz, head of hotels at Zedwell, said: “Oxford is one of the world’s most iconic and culturally rich cities, making it a natural fit for Zedwell as we continue to scale up across the UK.

“With a current and committed pipeline of more than 9,000 rooms by 2028, Zedwell is gaining powerful momentum across key urban destinations. We look forward to introducing our unique guest experience to Oxford and welcoming travellers from around the world.”

In 2023, plans were put forward for the first to fourth floors and part of the basement and ground floor to provide 55 en-suite student rooms.

Planning consultants Bidwells put the application forward on behalf of Croudace Properties.

The owners also planned a roof extension to the front elevation above the fourth floor and a two-storey roof extension to the rear elevation above the third floor.

At the same time, a planning application was submitted by the owners for a change of use from educational facilities to office accommodation.

The planning application said at the time: “It is noted this planning application is being submitted in tandem with a separate planning application for the change of use of Oxenford House to student accommodation.

“This twin-tracked approach has been adopted to ensure the applicant has complete flexibility in respect to the building’s future use and to meet market demand.”

Now it appears that the 2023 plans are being replaced by the latest plans for the boutique ‘capsule’ hotel.

City councillor Susanna Pressel said: “We were expecting this building to become yet more student accommodation, but actually I think a reasonably priced hotel would be better for the city.

“We are told that there is a big demand for more hotel rooms, in spite of some recent new hotels.

“At present, too many tourists are day-trippers and the city would gain more if they stayed overnight: they would spend more, which would create more jobs.”

The Zedwell chain offers “a simple, smart, and affordable way to rest, and your own cosy space to recharge, right in the centre of the action that is budget friendly”.

Individual sleeping capsules offer you your own private space within a shared dormitory, according to the chain.

It says: “Meet like-minded travellers in the lounge, then slip back into your capsule when you’re ready to unwind. It’s your space to switch off, rest, and recharge. Here you don’t need more, just what matters.”

It is not yet known if the Five Guys restaurant would remain once the new hotel opens.

Boutique hotel The Store hotel opened in May, 2024, on the site of the former Bosewells department store.

The hotel on the corner of Cornmarket Street and Broad Street is renowned for its fine dining Treadwell restaurant and rooftop bar.

There are also plans for an 145-room aparthotel and community hub on the site of the former Odeon Cinema in George Street.