Irish property investor Quinlan Private has emerged as an early frontrunner to buy Marylebone Warwick Balfour’s chain of boutique hotels, Malmaison and Hotel du Vin. Sunday Telegraph

Following the failed flotation of the Vector Hospitality hotel REIT, which was to own the hotels, MWB wanted to carry out a £450m sale and leaseback. But last week directors confirmed that the group intends to sell the hotel operations and property.

The price could reach more than £700m for 19 existing hotels and a pipeline of seven more that due to open next year.