One of the rooms of the private club Annabel's
In front of the door, as soon as you enter, what you find is a painting by Picasso himself. Specifically, the work previously known as "Woman with a Red Beret and Pom Pom", which Richard Caring, the owner of the painting and of this private club, has decided to rename r -although it may sound like a joke, it's serious- and now both the Picasso painting and the club have the same name, Annabel. This is how the tycoon spends them - his fortune is valued at more than 700 million pounds - and the new owner of the Annabel's.
One of the dining rooms at Annabel's
As well as giving Picasso a new name, Caring has also given Annabel's a new lease of life. During the past decades, if you were someone you had to show yourself in this private club , a place where British aristocracy and royalty of rock and show business -since the Rolling Stones until Ella Fitzgerald , the children of Queen Elizabeth II either Kate Moss- They met to share parties and also secrets, since discretion was -and still is- one of the many attractions of the club.
The aristocrat Mark Birley founded Annabel ’s in 1963 as a place to go with his friends to end the night and he ended up turning it into one of the elite private clubs , although in recent years there are those who say that its cult status had lost some steam.
The remodeling of this old party room meant a small move or -just a few meters, two doors, to number 46 Berkeley Square-, and a tremendous change . Now you no longer have to go down the famous stairs that led to the basement where it was the original Annabel's, Mr. Birley's.
Mark Birley, founder of Annabel's
The new Annabel's is entered at street level. Housed in a listed Georgian mansion (Grade I) four-story Annabel's of Caring has four restaurants, bars, two private dining rooms, a cigar lounge –run by none other than Darius Namdar, the current winner of the prestigious International Habano Sommelier Contest-, a nightclub, smoking rooms and also a garden terrace.
The redesign, like many of the other restaurants in Caring's empire (The Ivy, Sexy Fish), was carried out by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio that he gave him an air of excess, maximalism and decadence that enchants and catches as soon as you enter.
After going through the door, you already feel that the space will be eccentric like few others. There is more to see the sculpture of Pegasus, the famous winged horse of Greek mythology, hanging in the center of the central cantilevered staircase – the second largest in London, the first is in Buckingham Palace - to realize that you are entering into a fantasy world. At the new Annabel's, real life is definitely on the other side of the door.
This is one of the corridors of the private club Annabel's
The references to different gardens and diverse elements of flora and fauna are constant in the decoration and this is reflected in the exclusive and made-to-measure wall papers of Gournay : tigers, elephants, tropical plants, the decoration of the rooms is inspired by different gardens, an Asian garden, the Garden of Eden... The names of the rooms (Elephant, Jungle, Rose, Garden) also give clues about the style of them.
The spaces vary in atmosphere, light and color, allowing a natural transition from early to late at night, which is essential considering that the club is open twenty-one hours a day.
The Powder Room at Annabel's
In the garden there are murals painted by the British artist Gary Myat t and you can also enjoy the opulence of a retractable roof that retracts in two minutes and the chandelier-style lamps made by Sogni di Cristallo in Murano.
curiously one of the most talked about rooms is the ladies' restroom located on the top floor : The predominant hue is pink, which is the color of the shell-shaped onyx sinks and golden swan-shaped faucets, as well as the exquisite hand-sewn silk roses that cover the entire ceiling.
The club is currently open almost twenty-four hours, from seven in the morning until four in the morning -one of the most notable differences with the old Annabel's, which was a nightclub and was only open at night- and seeks to please an audience that, between party and party, in addition to having a good time, also works. For this reason, there are private spaces for meetings and the Mexican restaurant room unfolds into a kind of Alternative co-working space during the day.
Ode to luxury in the private club of Annabel's
Likewise, the renovation of the old and very strict dress code has been commissioned by fashion journalist Derek Blasberg. Perhaps to fit the new profile of successful young people from tech companies who dress very casually, now you can visit Annabel's in sports shoes, yes, elegant, and also cowboys before seven in the evening. Caps, sportswear or sunglasses at night are prohibited.
The puppies can be freely in the club , provided they are accompanied by their owners, until six in the evening. The general rules of the club have adapted to the times and now yes the use of phones and laptops is allowed, but only in the Mexican room and only until six in the evening.
Else photos are strictly prohibited , according to its general rules, to safeguard the privacy of members.
Details of The Powder Room at Annabel's
In addition to all of the above, at Annabel's they also offer exclusive events for their members , from the presentation of the new signature collection by Samantha Cameron (spouse of the prime minister who will go down in history for the Brexit referendum, David Cameron), until morning yoga sessions, performances by world-renowned DJs or champagne tastings.
The team that escorted me from room to room says that at Annabel's They are open to all membership requests and are looking to have a diverse, fun and characterful group of people. Do you want to join this club and become a member? Normally new members access by the infallible recommendation system , but the recommendation alone is not valid, after the same e he club committee must approve all new additions.
Among its members, apart from the old guard - even after the remodel, Annabel's is still a private club located in Mayfair, a neighborhood where it is difficult to find flats for less than a million pounds -, there are people who are dedicated to the world of finance, arts and technology.
Rumors say that Caring wants to lower the average age of the members s and prices start at £750 for those under 27, ascending to the £2,750 per year for those over 35.
We snuck into London's luxury private club