Edwardian Hotels London has celebrated the ‘bottoming out’ of its new development in Leicester Square.

Excavators earlier reached the lowest point, more than 30 metres below ground level, making it the deepest hotel basement in London and perhaps the largest commercial basement in the UK.

Edwardian Hotels London marks this milestone in partnership with project engineers, Arup, and project developers, McGee.

The £300 million investment from Edwardian Hotels London, which will open its doors in 2019, will have a huge impact on the entertainment centre of London, affirming the hospitality group as a key player within the capital for decades to come.

Iype Abraham, commercial development director at Edwardian Hotels London, said: “At Edwardian Hotels London we have a great heritage of improving existing properties and we have always wanted to develop our own site.

“This is an exciting hotel development in a cultural and entertainment hub of the capital.

“It is our aim to continue to invest in Leicester Square, and complement the surrounding West End area, attracting both Londoners and tourists alike to the area.”

With property prices in London skyrocketing, Edwardian Hotels has taken the option to build an ‘iceberg’ hotel.

Some 52 per cent of the property will be located below the surface in order to maximise value.

With some six stories below ground, the hotel will reach deeper than most tube stations.

When complete the site will include bars and restaurants, two Odeon cinemas, a banqueting suite and leisure facilities in the six levels below ground.

Above ground, the hotel will offer 350 high quality rooms and suites.

Rob Steul, creative director at Edwardian Hotels London, commented: “The look and feel of the hotel is an important factor in attracting people.

“The modern four-sided island site will ensure accessibility for the public to the various bars, cinemas and the hotel itself.

“As we continue to offer stand-out experiences for guests, the entertainment and leisure facilities at the site are also crucial in creating a unique atmosphere.

“We want to offer a destination; so that when people come to visit this property, they find everything they need here.”

To acknowledge today’s events, Edwardian Hotels London has also placed a time capsule in the basement area, containing blue prints, newspapers, and CGIs of the development.

Neil Hooton, Associate Director at Arup, continued: “Building such an ambitious project in a highly-populated and iconic area is an exciting challenge.

“The structure of the building makes smart use of the space and allows for a huge variety of facilities to feature right in the heart of London.

“Reaching the bottom of this landmark basement excavation is a key milestone, and we look forward to now laying the building foundations and beginning the build back up to ground and beyond.”

He went on to explain that the hotel expands out beneath street level, larger on three sides underground than it will be on the surface.

Brian McGee, managing director at McGee, concluded: “We are used to working across a wide range of sectors and projects, ensuring that innovative solutions are used to get the job done to an incredibly high standard.

“This project stands out not only due to the sheer scale of operating above and below ground, but also because of the ambition to include such a variety of facilities.”