How much does a hospitality renovation really cost and where do hidden costs come up?

Accanto Interiors
May 17
2 min read

If you run a hotel, restaurant, or members club in London, chances are you’ve asked yourself:

“How much is this renovation actually going to cost me — and what’s going to come out of nowhere and blow the budget?”

It’s a fair question. Renovations in London are a different beast — with higher labour rates, tighter regulations, and a real premium on quality and time.

London Hospitality Renovation Costs — A Realistic Breakdown

Let’s say you’re refurbishing a mid-sized venue (approx. 150–250 sqm) — a boutique hotel lobby, a restaurant dining room, or a private club lounge.

Add a 10–15% contingency for unexpected issues — and in London, you’ll almost certainly need it.

Where Do the Hidden Costs Come In?

Even with the best planning, London throws up surprises. Here’s where budgets tend to drift:

Planning & licensing delays — especially in listed buildings or conservation areas
Upgrading to meet building control or fire regs (a common issue in older buildings)
Structural issues — rotten floors, leaks, uneven levels
Spec creep — when you “just upgrade the lights” and end up redoing the ceiling
Logistics — restricted access, parking suspensions, out-of-hours deliveries
Loss of trading — every day closed is revenue lost

Where Your Money Goes: Visual Snapshot

Imagine a pie chart showing:

45% Construction & Fit-Out
25% FF&E
15% Design & Project Management
10% M&E
5–10% Contingency

It’s easy to underestimate what sits beneath the surface — the build cost is only part of the picture.

Our Role? Keeping You In Control.

At Accanto Interiors, we design and deliver commercial renovations from end to end. That means:

Clear pricing and full cost plans — not guesswork
Detailed planning before a single tile is ordered
A single point of contact from concept to completion
London-savvy build teams who know how to work cleanly, quickly, and around your hours
No nonsense. No disappearing contractors. No budget black holes.