Berry Bros & Rudd launch London rental properties in St James’s

Berry Bros. & Rudd, the UK’s oldest wine merchant, has six apartments for rent next to the excellent St James’s address it has occupied since 1698.

The royal family’s official wine supplier once counted Lord Byron and William Pitt the Younger among his clients, and residents of the flats have access to a personal wine concierge.

Designed by Victorian architect Norman Shaw, the Grade II listed building overlooks St James’s Palace, built some 150 years before Berry Bros. & Rudd settled was built.

“We have owned No.1 St James’s since 1996 when we had the opportunity to purchase the property, which enabled us to protect our historic wine cellars that run beneath the building,” says director Edward Rudd.

“The apartments were then let for long-term rental, but two years ago we decided to approach real estate investment company Obbard to take charge of the complete refurbishment and refurbishment of the site in our first residential redevelopment project.”

The discreet entrance, a few steps past the historic Berry Bros. storefront. & Rudd at No. 3, opens onto a wide lobby, with the six flats arranged around a central stairwell.

In a deliberate departure from the all-marble-everything brand of luxury they say reigns supreme in the local market, Obbard’s designer arm Obespoke has dressed the one, two, and three-bedroom apartments with antiques and reclaimed furnishings.

Sites like Vinterior proved key to picking up second-hand design, with some surprises along the way — including a chair that was double the size of what was expected and proved to be a challenge on the final flight of stairs.

“We wanted this development to appeal to those drawn to and inspired by the heritage of this neighborhood, so we purposefully avoided creating a state-of-the-art interior scheme,” said Patti Patrick, Obbard’s head of design and development, who worked with Anthro Architectural and interior design consultant Kate Watson-Smyth.

Period features such as cornices have been restored and historical items have been picked from the Berry Bros. archive. & Rudd, which spans its five centuries of operation.

On the wall of one flat hangs a letter from the White Star Line shipping company, stating that 69 cases of the company’s wines and spirits were lost on board the Titanic the previous day.

It’s an approach that company founder Hugh Obbard describes as “quintessentially English”.

Upstairs, the penthouse has a private roof terrace overlooking St James’s Park and a ‘hidden’ games room.

Rents start at £1,000 per week for a one bedroom apartment and go up to £3,750 for the penthouse. In addition to a personal doorman and the wine concierge service, residents can enjoy Berry Bros. & Rudd’s historic private dining rooms next door.

“The apartments reflect the heritage of St James’s but also offer modern amenities and services for residents,” says Rudd. “We think it’s a really unique rental proposition in central London.”