Bentley racing driver Bernard Rubin’s palatial Mayfair flat offered for a report sale value at £16 million

Within the largest condo deal in Mayfair within the final two years, Wetherell has offered the magnificent £16 million.

The 4,100 sq.ft. first flooring five-bedroom lateral condo at 49 Grosvenor Sq., overlooking The Connaught Resort, which in the course of the Twenties was the London dwelling of Le Mans racing driver Bernard Rubin (1896-1936), one of many legendary ‘Bentley Boys’, the well-known Bentley sportscar racing drivers.

The record-breaking sale of the lateral residence at 49 Grosvenor Sq. is the very best value achieved for an unmodernised condo in Mayfair for the final two years. The deal has additionally achieved the very best £ per sqft worth (£3,900 per sqft) for an unmodernised condo sale in Mayfair over the past 12 months. Wetherell say that that is the primary time that the landmark condo in Grosvenor Sq. had come onto the marketplace for sale in over 30 years, bought by a British purchaser who has acquired the property to function a London household dwelling.

As a result of dimension of the condo and the favoured side overlooking Carlos Place and The Connaught Resort Wetherell spotlight that there have been a number of events and critical bidders, together with current residents of the condo constructing.

Peter Wetherell, Founder & Govt Chairman of Wetherell says: “This excellent sale of the previous Grosvenor Sq. residence of ‘Bentley Boy’ racing driver Bernard Rubin is the most important condo deal in Mayfair within the final two years. The sale can be one of many largest property offers for a flat in London this 12 months. This exceptionally giant and uncommon first flooring condo overlooks Carlos Place and The Connaught Resort the place Rubin beloved to dine and celebration with the opposite ‘Bentley Boy’ racing drivers, 4 of whom owned flats in the identical advanced. With its ‘Bentley Boy’ historical past, excessive ceilings and Connaught views this trophy property is without doubt one of the best lateral flats in Mayfair.”

Wetherell observe that the huge condo constructing at 49 Grosvenor Sq. has an fascinating historical past. It was initially the location of the London mansion of the rich Earls of Pembroke and is positioned on an especially giant plot, extending from 49-50 Grosvenor Sq. into Carlos Place.

The present Neo-Georgian fashion Edwardian condo constructing on the South-East nook of Grosvenor Sq. was initially inbuilt 1925-1926 and was then refurbished and modernised in 1945-1947. Through the Twenties the condo advanced at 49-50 Grosvenor Sq. was the Mayfair dwelling of 4 gents racing drivers, recognized collectively because the ‘Bentley Boys’, as a result of a Bentley was their automobile of selection. The 4 ‘Bentley Boys’ who lived within the condo advanced had been Bernard Rubin, Glen Kidston, Tim Berkin and Woolf Barnato.

After a gruelling day’s racing, the ‘Bentley Boys’ would return to Mayfair, race round Grosvenor Sq. and park their inexperienced Bentley sportscars exterior the condo constructing. This resulted in cab drivers in Mayfair referred to the South-East nook of Grosvenor Sq. as ‘Bentley Nook’, though, as historic pictures present, the Bentleys had been really usually parked in both Carlos Place or Mount Road.

Australian born Bernard Rubin moved to London along with his household in 1908 and lived most of his life in England. He inherited an enormous fortune when his pearl-trader father died and turned his consideration to motor racing. His inheritance enabled him to buy in 1926 the condo at 49 Grosvenor Grosvenor sq. which has direct views onto The Connaught Resort the place Rubin favored to have lunch, dinner and celebration.

The condo, initially the house of racing driver Bernard Rubin, spans all the depth of the condo constructing and provides grand proportions all through together with over 3 metre ceiling heights, tall sash home windows and south-facing views over Carlos Place and The Connaught Resort.

The big reception hallway leads into the twin side reception room which has 5 giant sash home windows providing views onto The Connaught Resort. There’s an adjoining cocktail bar and it’s from the cocktail bar and reception room that Rubin hosted events attended by his Bentley racing driver colleagues Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato, Glen Kidston and Tim Birkin and Mayfair socialites together with Barbara Cartland who described the ‘Bentley Boys’ as “nice drivers and even higher dancers”.

The condo additionally consists of a big eating room with characteristic fire, a examine/library and a big household kitchen. The principal bed room suite has built-in wardrobes and a big ensuite lavatory and the dressing room could possibly be used as a fifth bed room. There are three additional bedrooms (two ensuite), a household lavatory, visitor cloakroom and a employees workplace.

Rubin labored exhausting and performed exhausting, the spotlight of his glittering racing profession was profitable the Le Mans 24-hour race for Bentley in 1928 along with his co-driver Woolf Barnato. Like Rubin the three different ‘Bentley Boys’ additionally bought flats within the 49-50 Grosvenor Sq. condo advanced.

Woolf ‘Babe’ Barnato was the inheritor to the Kimberley diamond mine, and later Chairman and proprietor of all the Bentley automobile firm. Glen Kidston raced at Brooklands, the Monte Carlo Rally, and raced motorbikes on the Isle of Man TT. Like Rubin his best second additionally got here at Le Mans which he gained in 1930, once more partnered by Woolf Barnato. The Honourable Sir Henry “Tim” Birkin was given his nickname Tim as a toddler after a comic book guide character known as Tiger Tim, along with his co-driver Woolf Barnato he gained the 1929 Le Mans race.

For additional data on the best properties on the market or let in Mayfair contact Wetherell on Tel: +44 (0)20 7529 5566 or go to www.wetherell.co.uk