The freehold of The Naval Club building at 38 Hill Street is for sale, it is one of the largest and most prestigious commercial buildings currently for sale in London’s Mayfair offering 17,131 sq.ft. (1,591.5 sq.m) of accommodation including grand state rooms, providing the buyer with an opportunity for future use as headquarter offices, Embassy, a private member’s club or a boutique hotel: for sale exclusively via joint sole agents Gerald Eve or Wetherell.
The imposing Grade II listed building is located on a wide and deep corner plot, offering substantial accommodation over basement, ground and four upper floors. The size of the floorplates and historic range of uses lend the building to a diverse range of potential future commercial or hospitality uses.
As offices 38 Hill Street would be perfect as a luxury headquarters building for a corporation or Private Family Office wanting a landmark building in the heart of Mayfair, alternatively a hotel group or leisure operator could refurbish the property as a branded private member’s club or create one of the finest boutique hotels in Mayfair.
As a 4 or 5-star boutique hotel 38 Hill Street could provide up to 30 keys, including bedrooms and suites, alongside concierge reception, lounges, cocktail bar, fine dining and entertaining rooms on the ground and first floors with a gymnasium and back-of-house facilities on the basement level. Other alternative future uses could include a single or multi-unit residential development or an Embassy or Ambassador’s residence.
The building has an illustrious history. It was originally built in 1748-49, designed by architect Benjamin Timbrell, under the auspices of local landowner Lord Berkeley. One of the early occupants was John Pitt, 2nd Earl of Chatham (1756-1835), the First Lord of the Admiralty and brother of Prime Minister William Pitt the Younger.
In the late 1890s the property was purchased by property and publishing tycoon E G “Isaac” Raphael who in 1905 commissioned architect William Flockhart to lavishly refurbish the façade and interiors including a deep projecting bay, entrance hall with circular staircase and a vast first floor Louis XVI style drawing room.
The property remained in private ownership until World War II, when it was requisitioned for use as a London headquarters by the Army’s Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1946 the freehold of 38 Hill Street was purchased from the Raphael family and it has been the home of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR) and The Naval Club ever since.
The Naval Club is a private member’s club where active and reserve Naval officers and other members can socialise. Notable members have included Viscount Astor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, and Harold Watkinson, 1st Viscount Watkinson with guests including HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Prince of Wales.
Lloyd Davies, Partner, Gerald Eve, says: “Located on a wide and deep plot, 38 Hill Street is an extremely large property which lends itself to a range of potential commercial or hospitality uses. It is a rare opportunity to secure one of the finest freeholds in Mayfair.”
Peter Wetherell, Founder & Chairman of Wetherell says: “it is extremely rare in Mayfair to have the opportunity to purchase the freehold of an entire mansion building of this size which is still configured as a vast single property. If remodelled into a super-prime mansion 38 Hill Street would be one of the most valuable, largest and prestigious private homes in Mayfair. Alternatively a developer could converted the building into a prestigious multi-unit residential development for which there remains a significant demand and a shortage of supply in Mayfair.”
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