Westminster City Council has given the green light to a new, 83-bedroom boutique hotel in Covent Garden, backed by Nobu-investor (and Hollywood A-lister) Robert De Niro.

The Wellington will incorporate two restaurants (a 270-cover operation split between ground floor and upstairs, and basement 100-seater), plus dining in a private members’ club.

The project – the conversion of a whole block made up of six period properties not far from the Aldwych – is set to be completed in 2019, and was described by the council’s deputy leader, as “one of the finest schemes we have considered for Covent Garden in years”. It will be a JV between the star, major Covent Garden investor Capco (Capital & Counties) and BD Hotels.

De Niro is well acquainted with the hotel and restaurant businesses, co-investing with BD Hotels owner in Tribeca’s hip Greenwich Hotel, as well as being one of the three long-term major investors in the Nobu restaurant and hotel chain.

Commenting on the project in May, De Niro is quoted as having said: “London is one of the most exciting and cosmopolitan cities in the world. It makes perfect sense to develop a hotel that represents all of that in the heart of this city in Covent Garden.”

Surely his PRs could have given him a spicier quote…