The Courthouse Doubletree by Hilton London – Regent Street is the first Doubletree branded hotel to open in central London and marks the 200th site worldwide.

The former Kempinski hotel underwent a fast-track conversion after Hilton Hotels Corporation (HHC) secured a franchise agreement to rebrand the 112-bedroom five-star property with Surejogi GMS. It now features a swimming pool, fitness centre, a spa, five function rooms and a restaurant. The hotel is operated by a subsidiary of Mastcraft Limited under a franchise agreement with Hilton.

The Grade II-listed hotel occupies the old Great Marlborough Street Magistrates Court building, which has held many historic characters including Oscar Wilde and Johnny Rotten. Charles Dickens also worked at the site as a courtroom reporter. HHC has also announced it has entered a franchise agreement with Sanguine Hospitality, owner of the Grade II-listed 72-bedroom Hoole Hall Country Club, Hotel & Spa in Chester, Cheshire. The property recently opened following the completion of the first phase of its £26.5m redevelopment by Denozen Contracts and Falconer Chester Hall Architects.

The hotel's £10m spa is expected to open in 2009 and will feature 12 treatment rooms including two couple suites, a relaxation area and a 18m swimming pool, an experience pool and a plunge pool. There will also be a sauna, steam room and a possible hair salon to accompany the fitness suite, which will include a gym, two dance studios and changing rooms. Doubletree branded hotels are designed to reflect the property's local area. They are currently featured in 190 locations worldwide, predominantly in the United States and there are plans to open branded hotels across the world including Canada, Costa Rica, Peru, Russia and Thailand.