The grand Selsdon House on the fringes of south Croydon was built as a country residence in 1809. It was converted into a hotel in 1924 and changed hands several times in the decades that followed. In 2023 it became a luxe resort and private members club called Birch Selsdon, but that era was very short lived. Birch went bust and closed just six months later.
The house has been empty ever since. But now moves are being made to bring it back to life. Luxury hotel developer BH Group has just secured approval from Croydon Council to start £30 million restoration work on the historic property.
The group has ambitions to reopen the hotel as the flagship property of its new luxury staycation hotel brand Elysium Collection (which will also have outposts in Cornwall and the Lake District). In the first stage of the redevelopment programme, its stained glass and decorative windows will be restored and work will be carried out to improve energy efficiency and to support the long-term conservation of the listed property and preservation of its historic features.
Later down the line the hotel, gym and tennis courts will be refurbished and there’s going to be a brand new spa and wellness facility, padel courts, staff accommodation and improved pedestrian and vehicle access. Improvements will also be made to the landscape and the 200 acres of parkland that surround the property. The estate previously had a golf course, but there are no plans to revive that.
BH Group is aiming to relaunch the hotel and its leisure facilities in summer 2027, with the spa following later in the year. It has told local residents associations that it wants Selsdon Park to be an ‘affordable’ four-star hotel with a total of 176 rooms. It has promised that, unlike Birch Selsdon, locals will be able to use the bars and restaurants without having to pay extortionate membership fees.
Jason Perry, executive mayor of Croydon, said: ‘Selsdon Park hotel is a wonderful local landmark, rich in local history and set in beautiful surroundings. I am delighted to see this £30m restoration project progressing. It is a significant investment in Selsdon that will protect the future of this historic estate, create new jobs, support local businesses and strengthen Croydon’s visitor economy. Seeing an iconic building restored and brought back into active use is good news for residents and for the borough as a whole.’
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