One of Belfast city centre’s leading hotels has gone on the market. CBRE Hotels has confirmed the launch of the sale of The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast. The hotel is offered on a freehold basis, guiding in excess of £32 million.
Opened in 2009 on a highly prominent corner site fronting Great Victoria Street, The Fitzwilliam Hotel has 146 bedrooms and suites, including a spacious two-bedroom private suite and a luxury penthouse suite, each spanning over 121 sqm (1,300 sq. ft.), together with an award-winning bar and restaurant. The hotel is adjacent to the recently opened Belfast Grand Central Station. Named AA Hotel of the Year for Northern Ireland in 2019-2020, the hotel is a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. The hotel is owner-operated and unencumbered by management – providing investors the full flexibility to either retain the operation under The Fitzwilliam name, subject to licence, or to rebrand the hotel.
In June 2026 planning permission was granted for a significant expansion and to add 52 spacious bedrooms and suites, a conference centre, gym and a luxury spa with swimming pool and eight treatment rooms.
As one of only five 5 Star hotels in Northern Ireland registered with Tourism Northern Ireland, The Fitzwilliam represents a rare opportunity to acquire a luxury hotel asset of this scale and quality.
According to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency’s Annual Tourism statistics for 2025, released in May 2026, Belfast is one of the UK and Ireland’s fastest-growing visitor destinations, with Northern Ireland attracting around 5.1 million overnight visitors and £1.2 billion in overnight spend in 2025, up 9% year-on-year. As the region’s largest commercial and tourism centre, Belfast captures the majority of this activity. With Grand Central Station now on the hotel’s doorstep and luxury hotel supply constrained, The Fitzwilliam Hotel is exceptionally well positioned to benefit.
Paul Collins, Executive Director and Head of Hotels, Ireland at CBRE, said: “Belfast’s hospitality market has strengthened considerably over recent years, supported by rising visitor numbers and greater corporate activity. The Fitzwilliam is well placed to benefit from this positive momentum, and its consented expansion plans give a new owner a clear path to add scale in a supply-constrained market. The Fitzwilliam is one of Belfast’s best-located hotels, next to the Grand Opera House and a short walk to Donegall Square and the vibrant Linen and Cathedral Quarters. We expect strong interest from investor groups particularly given the quality of the hotel and being unencumbered.”
Fergal O’Connell, CEO of the Fitzwilliam Hotel Group added: “Having been involved with The Fitzwilliam Hotel Belfast since its opening in 2009, we are incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past seventeen years. The hotel has established itself as one of Belfast’s leading luxury hospitality destinations and, with planning permission now secured for a significant expansion, we believe this is the right time for a new owner to build on that success and take the hotel into its next phase of growth. We remain fully committed to our wider hospitality interests, including The Fitzwilliam Hotel Dublin, where we have recently completed a substantial refurbishment programme and obtained planning permission to extend the hotel, and are excited about the opportunities ahead.”