Z Hotels: Owner, Breakfast, Locations & Worth

The Z Hotel chain has carved a specific niche in central London: compact rooms at accessible prices, with a breakfast buffet marketed as a “fantastic value” centrepiece of the stay. But guest reviews tell a more complicated story about whether that breakfast justifies its cost. This article examines who owns the brand, what the breakfast experience actually entails, where the properties are located, and what the recent £440 million sale means for travellers.

Last checked: 2026-07-06

Owner: Bev King · Breakfast: Available at Z Café Bar · Bedrooms at Z Hotel Covent Garden: 113 · Sale Price: £440 million

Who is the owner of Z Hotels?

Bev King is the owner and founder of Z Hotels. King built the company from scratch, growing the chain from a single property into a group of centrally located London hotels and one Liverpool outpost. The brand’s “compact luxury” model is directly tied to King’s vision of offering affordable stays in prime city locations without the full-service overhead of traditional hotels.

A LinkedIn profile lists King as the owner of Z Hotels, and multiple industry news articles covering the £440 million sale in 2023 identify him as the controlling figure behind the chain. The sale was described as a test of the post-pandemic hospitality recovery in central London.

Does Z Hotel have breakfast?

Yes, every Z Hotel property in the UK offers a breakfast buffet, served at the in-house Z Café Bar from 6:30 am to 11:00 am daily. The official Z Hotels website describes the buffet as “fantastic value” and part of the broader all-day café and late-night bar concept.

A Facebook post from the brand’s page pitches the spread at £14.95 per person, promising “fresh pastries, fruit, cereals, granola, bagels, and warm flatbreads” alongside barista coffee and juices. The same post calls it “a spread worth getting out of bed for”. (The Z Hotels – Facebook)

Earlier reviews and blog posts mention lower prices. A travel blogger reviewing Z Hotel Soho described the optional breakfast as roughly £9.50 if added in advance. (PhilaTravelGirl – Z Hotel Soho review) The gap between that figure and the current £14.95 suggests a notable price increase over time, though the chain has not publicly documented the change.

Where is the Z Hotel City?

The Z Hotel City is located in the City of London, the capital’s historic financial district. The hotel is one of seven London Z Hotels, alongside properties in Victoria, Strand, Soho, Holborn, Covent Garden, and Shoreditch. There is also a Z Hotel in Liverpool.

Each location follows the same compact-room model, with rooms that typically prioritise clever storage and modern bathrooms over square footage. The Z Hotel City, in particular, benefits from being steps away from Liverpool Street Station and the Gherkin, making it a natural fit for both business travellers and tourists exploring the Square Mile.

How much are Z Hotels worth?

Z Hotels was sold in 2023 for £440 million, a figure widely reported in hospitality industry news. The sale was positioned as a bellwether for the central London hotel market’s recovery after the pandemic downturn.

Individual property pricing offers a more granular picture. Agoda lists the average room rate at The Z Hotel Shoreditch at approximately $179. (Agoda – The Z Hotel Shoreditch listing) Across the chain, rates span from €69 at Z Hotel Holborn to €157 at Z Hotel City, reflecting differences in neighbourhood, room size, and demand patterns. The £440 million sale price values the brand at a multiple that reflects both its real estate holdings and its operational model.

Timeline: How Z Hotels grew

The brand’s development from a single property to a £440 million portfolio unfolded across key milestones, with guest feedback evolving alongside the chain’s expansion.

• Pre-2010: Bev King develops the initial Z Hotel concept, focused on compact rooms and central London locations.
• 2010–2015: Z Hotels opens multiple properties across central London, including Holborn, Soho, and Shoreditch. Early TripAdvisor reviews begin to appear, with mixed comments on breakfast value.
• June 2015: A guest at The Z Hotel Shoreditch posts a review praising the stay but noting breakfast “really let it down”, with a pre-paid price of around £9.
• 2016–2022: The chain expands to Covent Garden, City, Victoria, Strand, and Liverpool. Breakfast pricing appears to increase, with marketing later promoting £14.95.
• August 2023: A TripAdvisor review of The Z Hotel City says “Breakfast is not worth the money”, citing specific execution problems.
• 2023: The entire Z Hotels chain is sold for £440 million, with the deal framed as a test of central London hospitality recovery.

Pricing bands

Z Hotels room rates vary significantly by location and season. Based on available data, the range is:

• Entry-level: from €69 at Z Hotel Holborn
• Mid-range: approximately $179 at Z Hotel Shoreditch (Agoda listing)
• Premium: up to €157 at Z Hotel City

Breakfast is an add-on at £14.95, though some guests in earlier reviews cited lower pre-booking prices. The chain’s positioning as “affordable” should be understood within the context of central London, where even €69 is relatively competitive for a private room in zone 1–2.

Location and getting there

Z Hotels are concentrated in central London, with one property in Liverpool. The London locations are:

• City – steps from Liverpool Street Station
• Covent Garden – 113 bedrooms in the theatre district
• Holborn – near the British Museum and legal quarter
• Liverpool – the single non-London property
• Shoreditch – East London creative hub
• Soho – West End entertainment district
• Strand – between Covent Garden and the City
• Victoria – near Victoria Station and Belgravia

All London hotels are within walking distance of Tube stations, and the compact model means guests trade room space for a central address that would otherwise command luxury-level prices.

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Frequently asked questions about Z Hotels