As street names go, London’s Gilston Road does not have quite the same instant impact as Rodeo Drive or Fifth Avenue. It is, however, definitely as star-studded, with celebrity neighbours including David Bowie, Rowan Atkinson, and fashion designer Tom Ford. One private residence on the small South Kensington thoroughfare has seen more than the usual share of famous names passing through its portals. Last year it hit the headlines when media mogul Chris Evans invested £6.7 million in it, and now the house has been placed back on the market by the current owner, George Michael, who picked it up for £7.25 million.
Apparently, the moustachioed crooner is hoping to land a record-breaking £8.25 million for the building, which would make it the most expensive house in Britain in terms of pounds per square foot. “This house always commands the most extraordinary price every time it sells,” says Jonathan Hewlett of estate agents FDP-Savills, adding: “It’s a mixture of its provenance, its appearance, and its location on Gilston Road, which has become a destination address.”
So if it is as desirable as is made out, how come folks always seem to move on so quickly? “It’s all hat and no cattle, as they say in Texas,” revealed one agent, referring to the house’s combination of impressive living rooms and small bedrooms overlooked by houses at the rear. “You walk into a wonderful series of reception rooms, with a lovely library, a fine drawing room, and a huge kitchen, but after that, it fizzles out.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
The singer, who has placed his Gilston Road mansion up for sale for £8.25 million, is just one of a host of celebs to invest in the South Kensington street.
