London, February 2, 2026 – a&o Hostels, Europe’s largest and fastest-growing hostel chain with more than 31,000 beds across the continent, has announced the appointment of Carolin Paarmann as General Manager of its first London property, a&o London Docklands Riverside, which opened in late November in the British capital.
a&o London Docklands Riverside is located in a 17th-century dockside building in the Southwark district on the south bank of the River Thames. Following a phased modernisation programme, due to begin in 2026, the property will offer approximately 500 rooms and 2,100 beds.
Speaking following the appointment, Carolin Paarmann, General Manager of a&o London Docklands Riverside said: “Entering the London hotel market is a significant challenge, but we have an outstanding team that has created an open, lively and welcoming atmosphere from day one.” Paarmann expects the hostel to achieve an average occupancy rate of around 65% in the first half of 2026.
Commenting on the company’s first property in the English capital and on Carolin’s appointment, Oliver Winter, CEO of a&o, said: “London is another major milestone in the history of a&o. The city is a unique location, economically, culturally and geopolitically. With Carolin Paarmann and the entire team on site, we are well positioned to seize this opportunity and successfully establish a&o in the London market.”
After training as a chef in Hanover, Carolin Paarmann held roles in both the United Kingdom and Australia. Between 2009 and 2011, she completed further training in Berlin to qualify as a state-certified business manager for hotels and catering. She went on to hold positions in Scotland and Wales, before completing a management trainee programme with a&o, with roles in Hamburg, Amsterdam and Berlin.
Based in London since 2015, Paarmann has developed extensive knowledge of the city and its hospitality market.
“London is a magnet for visitors, from independent travellers to groups such as school and language students. We expect around 180,000 overnight stays in 2026”, she said.
The Berlin-based budget chain’s preference for distinctive existing buildings is reflected in this new London property. Renovation and modernisation work across the three building complexes of the historic dockside site will begin later this year, with a&o investing approximately €20 million euros in a phased programme while the property remains operational.
Among the property’s standout features is London’s first electric ferry, operating every ten minutes as a complimentary ‘a&o river taxi’ for guests between the hotel’s private pier and Canary Wharf Pier. The crossing takes just two minutes, with Buckingham Palace and Big Ben reachable within 30 minutes via the Underground.
Adding to guests’ easy accessibility, London City Airport is approximately a 30-minute drive away. The property also features a riverside bar overlooking the wharf and an underground car park – amenities not typically found in European budget accommodation.
Any enquiries or questions should be directed to FINN Partners on behalf of a&o hostels a&ohostels@finnpartners.com
About a&o
a&o was founded in Berlin in 2000 by current CEO Oliver Winter. The company currently operates 46 locations with around 31,300 beds in 31 cities and ten European countries. True to its motto, ‘Everyone can travel’, a&o enables travel at an affordable price. Core guest segments include backpackers, solo travellers, families, school classes and clubs. The number of business travellers and senior citizens is also continuing to grow. In the first half of 2025, a&o recorded 1.4 million guests, 3.1 million overnight stays and achieved an occupancy rate of 73 per cent. With 6.2 million overnight stays, 2.8 million guests and a turnover of 232.4 million euros, 2024 was the most successful year in the company’s history to date. As part of the sustainability strategy, measures to further reduce CO2e emissions per overnight stay are being pushed forward. Since the end of 2023, StepStone Group and Proprium Capital Partners have been owners of a&o. Look out for a&o’s new locations in 2025/26, including Manchester, London, Milan, Firenze, Brussels.
For more: https://www.aohostels.com/en/