Yahoo Finance Tour the Harrods chocolate factory duplex that sold for £18m
What type of home would you buy if you had millions of pounds to spend?
Some big budget buyers choose trophy mansions or historic castles, while others prefer city centre townhouses or contemporary penthouses. However, a duplex in a former chocolate factory has hit the sweet spot for a wealthy European family.
They paid £18m to follow in Willy Wonka’s footsteps, as they wanted to live next door to Harrods. This makes their new home one of the most expensive apartments to change hands in London this year.
This six-bedroom, 6,400 square foot property is in the Harrods Depository building, adjacent to the world-famous department store in super-prime Knightsbridge.
Opened in 1920, the depository was designed as a sister building to the store by the same architect, CW Stephens, and looks very similar.
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It contained directors’ offices, warehouse storage and a production line for Harrods’ teas, luxury foods and other own-brand goods.
The fourth and fifth floors – now the duplex apartment – previously housed the Harrods Bakery and Chocolate Factory, where luxury cakes, pastries, confectionary and Easter eggs were made.
These were transported directly into the store via a hidden underground subway to ensured they’d arrive at the counter in immaculate condition without disrupting – or being disturbed by – shoppers and traffic on the busy Brompton Road.
VIP orders included birthday and wedding cakes for British and overseas royalty, and chocolate boxes for American tycoons.
Chocolate production ceased in the late 1970s and from 2000-2002 the interior of the depository was redeveloped into 40 large and luxurious apartments, but the building’s original brick and terracotta façade was retained.
Entry is via expansive five-star hotel style foyers, and there's a 24/7 concierge service and uniformed security, a landscaped courtyard garden and a covered parking complex.
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The duplex was created by amalgamating four separate apartments and interior was designed by aptly-named Candy London, formerly Candy & Candy.
Natural materials and neutral, earthy tones were used throughout, giving it a contemporary quiet luxury aesthetic – think Succession rather than Bridgerton.
Ceilings are more than 10 feet high, windows are oversized and proportions are generous. A vast entrance hall and three adjoining reception rooms, spanning 75 feet in total, make it perfect for grand-scale entertaining.
The Poggenpohl kitchen/breakfast room on the opposite side of the hall is fitted with Gaggenau appliances and leads out past a dining area to a south-facing terrace.
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Next door, a flexible room with an ensuite bathroom could be used as a gym, yoga studio or extra bedroom.
From the hall, a curved staircase sweeps down to the five ensuite bedrooms on the lower floor.
These include a gigantic principal bedroom suite with twin ensuite bathrooms separated by a shared, walk in double shower. This bedroom also has two dressing rooms, each flanked by wall-to-wall, full height wardrobes.
The duplex's living areas and three of the bedrooms enjoy views over Trevor Square, a garden square, and the rooftops of this extremely rarified neighbourhood. Unusually for a home in this location, it comes with four secure off-road car parking bays.
The duplex was sold by Beauchamp Estates. All photos provided by Beauchamp Estates.
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