Celebrity Moves – October 2017

TV presenter Gok Wan finds it hard to let go of properties even though his career trajectory has taken him from a warehouse loft conversion in Bermondsey to a Georgian townhouse in Covent Garden. When the time comes to relocate, the celebrity stylist simply rents his home out and moves on, a habit which has made him something of an accidental property tycoon. Gok has found that different parts of his personality are drawn to different London locations which have led to some pretty sharp property u-turns.

For instance, after buying a lovely cottage in Hampstead, he found the secluded villagey atmosphere intolerable and was back in central London before you could say “you go, girlfriend!” He’s probably got a few more London moves left in him before he retires to the country, but in the meantime will probably want to stay in and around Zone 1. However, not everybody finds the NW3 neighbourhood to be the London equivalent of Easter Island as this plush 3 bedroom rental property shows.

Sometimes a property transaction comes along in London that is so massive that it lifts the entire prime sector in one go. The purchase of a luxury apartment in Knightsbridge for £90 million by radio tycoon Ashley Tabor is one such event. Tabor has, over the last decade, acquired a large and lucrative portfolio of commercial radio stations that include Capital, Heart and Classic FM, so this is no mere vanity project.

He already owns a property next door which was snapped up for “paltry” £15 million ten years ago and there are plans to merge the two in order to create a £200 million “super flat”. The deal signals a trend whereby the mega wealthy, keen to avoid moving hassles and planning battles, simply purchase adjoining properties in order to expand. For the slightly less ambitious among us, Knightsbridge can still offer space aplenty, take a look at this beauty.

Gold kitchen fittings: check. Italian marble bathroom: check. Armani punchbag in the gym? The interiors of Aykon London One indicate that something more than just boring old interior design is going on in Nine Elms. Recently, the design diva Donatella Versace has moved a crack team of creatives into the 50 storey tower in order to kick the bling factor up several notches.

The launch of this SW8 development has been relatively low key and this is probably because, with the stunning river views and proximity to Chelsea, apartments here will interest the odd pop star or footballer. On the other hand, Versace’s dynamic presence has been in evidence on London’s catwalks, with shows attracting rave reviews from the fashion cognoscenti. The likes of Lottie Moss (Kate’s little sis) and pop star FKA Twiggs have been in attendance, providing youthful energy for Donnatella to draw on as she helps make Aykon a beacon of absolute luxury. Nearby properties like this one share the same view if not the designer boxing gear.

Speaking of Lottie Moss, the rising star of the London modelling scene is keen to get into the property market herself. Currently sharing a flat in Fulham Riverside with Made In Chelsea co star Frankie, she’s reportedly been browsing various property portals as well as undertaking scouting trips around West London. She’ll probably not stray too far from Chelsea as it’s the area that is currently boosting her profile.

There’s no doubt however that Fulham Riverside has been an ideal base for her and her circle. They’ve been spotted using the five star amenities that are available to all residents and Lottie in particular deems her balcony view as totally Instagrammable. As a result the development has featured heavily on the 19 year olds social media pages. However, like big sister Kate, Lottie likes some edge to go with her luxury and is apparently very much interested in a period home. For the same kind of views, check out this Riverside gem of a rental property in Hammersmith.