ME by Melia, the hotel brand owned by Spain-based Melia Hotels International, is expected to open early next year near Covent Garden in London.

The hotel was designed by Foster + Partners and will feature 157 individually-designed rooms including 16 suites. It is located on the site of the former Gaitey Theatre, Strand Music Hall and Marconi House.

Dining options will include Cucina Asellina, a rustic Italian restaurant and STK London, a modern adaptation of a steakhouse.

The Marconi Bar and the rooftop Radio Bar will also form part of ME London, which joins other ME properties in the Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona and Cabo and Cancun, Mexico.

Other facilities will include a fitness area featuring a range of Technogym equipment and 499sq m (5,371sq ft) of meeting space.