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by Simon Barnes

Mayfair is revelling in its transformation

Mayfair has always been one of London’s most sought after post codes, but over recent years the look and feel…and crucially the character has changed quite dramatically.

Mayfair  has undergone a major cash injection with a comprehensive transformation, notably targeting the areas of Mount Street and Shepherd Market.  These areas have been turned into chic modern enclaves boasting designer names, bespoke retailers and all things beautiful and luxurious with a village atmosphere away from the frenetic West End.

Berkeley Square, Mayfair
Berkeley Square, Mayfair

Richard Caring, no stranger to Mayfair, spent more than £15m on his latest restaurant venture, Sexy Fish, turning the former Natwest bank building on the corner of Berkeley Square into a feast for the eyes .  The restaurant is certainly sufficiently ‘bling’ to attract a string of celebrities, Russian oligarchs and bankers’ wives who lunch.  The extravagant interiors include a golden ceiling, an Iranian floor, works of art that include a sparkling crocodile by Frank Gehry and a Damien Hirst mermaid and one of the largest fish tanks lining the walls of the private dining room in the basement.

Across the square long established Annabel’s nightclub continues to attract devotees, as do the discerning Scotts and Harry’s Bar.

Property in Mayfair

Until recently property transactions in Mayfair would typically be very much ‘under the radar’ – individual units in mansion blocks or big house sales with no significant developments to speak of.  That has changed with Finchatton’s high profile Grosvenor Square development , which is achieving as much as £6000 per square foot, and John Caudwell’s  plans to transform the multi storey carpark in Audley Street into one of London’s most exciting residential developments.

Filed Under: Mayfair, Prime Areas Tagged With: Annabel's, Audley Street, Mayfair, Mount Street, Property in Mayfair, Sexy Fish, Shepherd Market

by Simon Barnes

Five facts you didn’t know about Mayfair….

“As my office is just off Berkeley Square in the heart of Mayfair, I can’t fail to notice how Mayfair has changed over the last 20 years.” says Simon Barnes, owner of H.Barnes & Co. “But even after 20 years walking Mayfair’s elegant streets, I find things that I did not know – and perhaps the following Mayfair facts are a surprise to you too.”

Berkeley Square, London
Berkeley Square, London

Fact 1

Brown Hart Gardens, Mayfair: hidden away on the roof of the old electricity substation in Duke Street built in 1903-1905.  This raised paved terrace is the weekly venue for The Mayfair Market, where energetic entrepreneurs and artisan foodies will take you on a food journey from Argentina for empandas, to Portugal for Bacalhau,  Every Wednesday from 11am to 3pm. The Garden Café by Benugo is a great lunch time get away from the city bustle.

Fact 2

From rags to riches: on what is now 103 Mount Street was once the parish workhouse.  It was erected in 1725 and extended during the 1780’s to provide board, lodgings and work for the poor. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Mayfair Tagged With: Mayfair facts

by Simon Barnes

Mayfair Property – under the radar?

It may seem a strange thing to say but many people looking to buy property in prime central London do not consider Mayfair among their preferred buying locations. Of course, everyone knows Mayfair, or at least have heard of it; if only because it is the most expensive ‘property’ in the UK version of the Monopoly game.

LondonBuildings010It actually takes some persuading to convince buyers that Mayfair property is worthy of their consideration. Why is this?

Maybe because

  1. It is a small area with a relatively small number of properties, at least compared to other central London prime areas
  2. It is perceived as an area full if expensive shops and trendy boutiques rather than a residential area
  3. It is not ‘Belgravia’ – the favoured location for many UK and overseas buyers
  4. It has lots of offices and lacks ‘atmosphere’ or community life, particularly in the evenings
  5. There cannot be any variety in such a small area with so many other functions

In fact, in recent years buyers have returned to Mayfair, many considering numbers 1-4 on this list as positive benefits rather than negative factors; and when they do look at Mayfair, they find that it offers a much wider variety of properties than, for example the popular garden squares of Belgravia.

Why buyers are beginning to choose Mayfair Property

For those in the know, Mayfair property offers many benefits with buyers liking that it is quiet (especially in the evenings and weekends), it is compact and residents can walk everywhere, and it has the best restaurants and is close to London’s best theatres.

Most important, what suits some buyers is that it has a lower profile, is more discreet and, despite what many believe, is still (relatively speaking) ‘under the radar’.

Filed Under: Mayfair, Opinion, Property, Simon Barnes’ Property Scrapbook Tagged With: Mayfair, Mayfair property

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