With Irish investors still particularly active in the London apartment market, Sotheby's International Realty is hoping to find buyers here for three stunning apartments opposite The Ritz Hotel in central London. Prices start at £4.5 million sterling.
The three apartments have been created in a flamboyant classical-style building built in 1921 as a showroom for Wolseley Motors. The location could hardly be better - 1 Arlington Street, St James's, London W1 - within easy walking distance of some of the most fashionable areas of the city.
Apart from the splendid location, Arlington Street has some diverting historical associations. It was here that Lord and Lady Nelson lived and had their final quarrel over Nelson's mistress, Emma Hamilton. Sotheby's does not anticipate any quarrelling over the prices of the three apartments, which will include a uniformed porterage.
Paul Taylor, who heads the London office of Sotheby's, says while several hundred apartments have been bought by Irish investors over the past 12 months, he believes the Arlington Street homes will appeal to those players who are seeking a place for themselves.
The cheapest of them, at £4.5 million, will occupy the second floor with almost 4,000 sq ft.
It has five bedrooms, a stylish 31 ft reception room and a diningroom to seat 18 people. The master bed room suite has "his and hers" bathrooms.
Interior designers have left nothing to chance when refurbishing the building - an eminent Feng Shui master from Hong Kong was on hand to advise on design and orientation.
The apartments epitomise modern, metropolitan living. The Ritz says it will be happy to come to an arrangement with the residents about catering. Alternatively, residents will have the opportunity to avail of the private dining facilities of the nearby China House.
Each of the apartments has its own control room for monitoring services including ventilation and heating. For residents needing staff, a separate studio can be sealed off from the main residence.
The high spec fit out includes a mixture of oak and limestone floors, nickel and chrome bathroom fittings, Camargue fitted kitchens with granite worktops and a full range of Smeg and Neff electrical appliances including an American size fridge.
