Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
THE Integrity International Group, led by British Asian hotelier Tony Matharu, has acquired two properties in London - Atlas House and Crescent buildings for an undisclosed amount.
Atlas House, a Grade II-listed building, is situated at the junction of King Street, Queen Street, and Cheapside, while the Crescent is located adjacent to Tower Suites by Blue Orchid Hotels.
Both Atlas House and the Crescent will join the Blue Orchid Hospitality brand, part of Integrity, the group said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the company recently restructured its Garage Hotels Group, the statement said.
“The recent acquisition of Atlas House and the Crescent portfolio demonstrates our continued commitment to invest in and breathe new life into London property, particularly those buildings at the end of their previous lives, ensuring that London remains the best place to live, work, visit, and invest,” Matharu said.
“The team at Integrity International Group has unrivalled expertise in acquiring, developing and operating first-class hospitality facilities.”
The two properties will be added to the group’s portfolio, which includes luxury hotels, apartments, suites, residences, and venues, the statement said. These include the Westminster-based Wellington and Rochester hotels; Tower Suites and Tower Residences; as well as 55 Broadway, a Grade I-listed building set to be repurposed into a 526-room hotel in St James’s Park.
Prior to establishing Integrity International Group, Matharu was the founder of Grange Hotels which he ran as group managing director until its key London sites were sold to Jurys Inn (now Leonardo Hotels) in 2019, according to Integrity. Matharu has delivered over 2,500 hotel rooms and facilitated the creation of 1,750 jobs throughout London.
In January, Starwood Capital Group, a US-based private equity firm, acquired 10 Radisson Blu Edwardian properties in London, totaling 2,053 rooms, from Edwardian Hotels London, a UK hospitality group chaired by Jasminder Singh.
Matharu was ranked 23rd in the Asian Rich List 2023 published by Asian Media Group with an estimated wealth of £630 million.
UK life sciences sector contributed £17.6bn GVA in 2021 and supports 126,000 high-skilled jobs.
Inward life sciences FDI fell by 58 per cent from £1,897m in 2021 to £795m in 2023.
Experts warn NHS underinvestment and NICE pricing rules are deterring innovation and patient access.
Investment gap
Britain is seeking to attract new pharmaceutical investment as part of its plan to strengthen the life sciences sector, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said during meetings in Washington this week. “We do need to make sure that we are an attractive place for pharmaceuticals, and that includes on pricing, but in return for that, we want to see more investment flow to Britain,” Reeves told reporters.
Recent ABPI report, ‘Creating the conditions for investment and growth’, The UK’s pharmaceutical industry is integral to both the country’s health and growth missions, contributing £17.6 billion in direct gross value added (GVA) annually and supporting 126,000 high-skilled jobs across the nation. It also invests more in research and development (R&D) than any other sector. Yet inward life sciences foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 58per cent, from £1,897 million in 2021 to £795 million in 2023, while pharmaceutical R&D investment in the UK lagged behind global growth trends, costing an estimated £1.3 billion in lost investment in 2023 alone.
Richard Torbett, ABPI Chief Executive, noted “The UK can lead globally in medicines and vaccines, unlocking billions in R&D investment and improving patient access but only if barriers are removed and innovation rewarded.”
The UK invests just 9% of healthcare spending in medicines, compared with 17% in Spain, and only 37% of new medicines are made fully available for their licensed indications, compared to 90% in Germany.
Expert reviews
Shailesh Solanki, executive editor of Pharmacy Business, pointed that “The government’s own review shows the sector is underfunded by about £2 billion per year. To make transformation a reality, this gap must be closed with clear plans for investment in people, premises and technology.”
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold £20,000 to £30,000 per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) — has remained unchanged for over two decades, delaying or deterring new medicine launches. Raising it is viewed as vital to attracting foreign investment, expanding patient access, and maintaining the UK’s global standing in life sciences.
Guy Oliver, General Manager for Bristol Myers Squibb UK and Ireland, noted that " the current VPAG rate is leaving UK patients behind other countries, forcing cuts to NHS partnerships, clinical trials, and workforce despite government growth ambitions".
Reeves’ push for reform, supported by the ABPI’s Competitiveness Framework, underlines Britain’s intent to stay a leading hub for pharmaceutical innovation while ensuring NHS patients will gain faster access to new treatments.
By clicking the 'Subscribe’, you agree to receive our newsletter, marketing communications and industry
partners/sponsors sharing promotional product information via email and print communication from Garavi Gujarat
Publications Ltd and subsidiaries. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the
unsubscribe link in our emails. We will use your email address to personalize our communications and send you
relevant offers. Your data will be stored up to 30 days after unsubscribing.
Contact us at data@amg.biz to see how we manage and store your data.