Five-star Mayfair hotel hit with HMRC winding-up petition
A five-star Mayfair hotel has been hit with a winding-up petition by the UK tax authority, just months after the sudden departure of its managing director.
The Stafford London, a 107-room luxury hotel, was served the petition by HMRC after a filing was made to the High Court, Morning Wire can reveal.
A winding-up petition is a formal legal process used against a company that owes money and has not paid its debts. It is a common tool used by HMRC against companies that have failed to pay tax bills.
The Stafford’s owner, BHL Global, was also served a winding-up petition by HMRC. The group owns The Stafford Collection, which also includes Norma, a restaurant in Fitzrovia, and Lympstone Manor, a luxury hotel in Devon.
The Stafford and Lympstone Manor both feature Michelin-star restaurants run by Michael Caines, a celebrated English chef and restaurateur.
BHL Global founded The Stafford Collection in 2019 and acquired Lympstone Manor in June 2025, when Caines joined the group as an associate member.
The tax pursuit from HMRC comes just months after The Stafford’s managing director, John McLean, quit after only a year in the role.
McLean had worked as a chef at The Stafford before holding manager positions at The Kensington, Brown’s hotel in Mayfair and The Lanesborough, also in Mayfair.
Stafford owner warns of rising costs
The Stafford dates back to the 17th century and its wine cellars are believed to be among the oldest in London. It was bought by BHL, then known as Britannia Hospitality, for £77.5m in 2009.
BHL is owned by the El Sharkawy family, a prominent group of Egyptian property and hospitality moguls.
The hotel owner’s turnover fell by five per cent to £30.5m in the year to December 2024, according to its latest available accounts.
BHL Group said it was facing pressure from an “increasingly competitive” London luxury hotel market.
The group also hit out at rising wage, food and utility costs, as well as a “shortage of skilled labour” within the hospitality sector.
In January, the Hotel Cafe Royal – another West End luxury hotspot – was hit with a winding-up petition by HMRC.
A spokesperson for HMRC said: “We take a supportive approach to dealing with customers who have tax debts and only file winding-up petitions once we’ve exhausted all other options, in order to protect taxpayers’ money.”
The Stafford declined to comment. BHL Group could not be reached for comment.