The super-home has 110 rooms; spanning 43,000sq ft - which is roughly the average size of 55 London flats and more than twice the size of the Royal Albert Hall. But Fatal Attraction didn't need a remake, FA launches probe into Jurgen Klopp's altercation with referee Paul Tierney, Billions spent on unproven carbon capture could instead save households 9,000 each, Do not sell or share my personal information. The Phones4U founder - who grew up in Shelton - spent 65 million and four years renovating the property in one of the world's most exclusive postcodes. This newly built mansionin north-west London's celebrity-packed enclave is themost expensive property listed for sale in London so far this year. 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Now, the Stoke on Trent-born billionaire in the subject of a new documentary for Channel 4, Expensive Home: Building For A Billionaire, which takes a look at his incredible 250million Mayfair home as it undergoes a 65million refurbishment. It's just an instinct, I know that's the way to do it." "We'd go around knocking on people's doors saying we were selling soap products for the blind. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The sprawling 250million mansion is owned by Phones 4 U founder John Caudwell, Britains Most Expensive Home John Caudwell, Credit: (Channel 4 images must not be altered or manipulated in any way) CHANNEL 4 PICTURE PUBLIC, The stunning swimming pool has a lava volcano theme, The property is in Mayfair and has its own bar, The majestic ballroom was left pretty much untouched by John during renovations, John lives in the pad with his wife Modesta Vesniauskait and their six-month-old son, William, It's a billionaire's paradise with its own bar and cinema, The spa room even has a sunken jacuzzi to relax in, One of the mega-mansions luxurious bedrooms, John's extravagant home cinema is now adorned with snaps of his family recreating film stars famous poses, The plush games room is the perfect place for entertaining, Tinie Tempah shocked as Extraordinary Extensions developer spends 11million transforming basement, inside some of Britain's most expensive homes, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). This was not the answer he was looking for and he indicated that I had to leave the club. Our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. all. The ballroom is said to be the largest private ballroom in London after Buckingham Palace. Hes currently dating 36-year-old Lithuanian cycling champion and former Olympian Modesta Vzesniauskaite. Given Caudwells taste in sparkling, Elton John-like jackets (which are displayed on mannequins in the home), its hardly surprising that theres a more than just a hint of Liberace or Louis XIV about the place. The house is estimated to be worth 250million after refurbishments. It's just an instinct, I know that's the way to do it.". Mayfair is one of London s priciest neighborhoods; for decades, its been an ultra-exclusive enclave of wealthy Arab oil tycoons and celebrity-laden nightclubs. Caudwells It was not an obvious route to wealth, and seven years later Midland Garages, as his dealership was called, had a staff of seven and did a fair, though not particularly lucrative turnover. Every time I went back to the minibus I had sold my entire allocation, for 5, and I got 1 commission. Please note you may be matched to one of our trusted partners such as CraftJack, Angi or Networx. An underground games room overlooks the pool. The manor of Broughton was owned by the eponymous Broughton family from the 13th century. In Mayfair, the wealthy businessman John Caudwell, founder of the retail chain Phones 4u, was also lusting after a home. He wasnt hugely interested in living in it, though, intending to mainly hold meetings and charity balls at the townhouse mansion once work on it was completed. A dedicated philanthropist, Caudwell doesnt intend to use the property as his main residence. I believe in sink or swim, and if one of my companies can't survive on its own, then another company shouldn't prop it up, especially at the expense of my own customers.". The refurbishment also includes an incredible 78 miles of electricity cables, eco-friendly heating, a subterranean cinema and a spa complete with pools heat experiences and a gym. Now fixed, the lava appears to be moving above the swimming pool. That would be enough daily exercise for most middle-aged men, but by 8pm, after a full day's work, Mr Caudwell is back on his bike for two more hours of lane-bashing. He has been married once and has five children from three different relationships. Get involved in exciting, inspiring conversations. There is also a games room overlooking the pool, a 12-seater cinema with bar, two climate-controlled wine cellars, a cigar room and an underground garage with four-car hydraulic lift. Mr Caudwell has built his businesses up from scratch and, with his brother Brian, a minority investor, is estimated to be worth 300m, placing the duo 85th on The Sunday Times Rich List. The ballroom is said to be the largest private ballroom in London after Buckingham Palace. And an impeccably decorated Thai-themed dining room also steals the spotlight, with stunning blossom trees and a river which a number of the tropical fish Malawi cichlids call home. In an increasingly saturated market, customer loyalty, he says, "is absolutely essential, critical", adding: "We need to give them such good value that they don't really want to go anywhere else. We will use this information to make our website and the advertising displayed on it more relevant to your interests. The second was a grocery shop, run by him and his wife, which rapidly taught him returns didn't necessarily increase with the amount of work you put in. "After that I pulled off one deal after another. Having sold his firm to Microsoft last year for $2.5bn he now feels trapped, reports the Daily Mail, "in a world every bit as isolated and purposeless as the digital one he invented". Take a sneak peek at the incredible renovation here With the incredible house, John aimed to create one of the most lavish homes to be renovated in the UK. He owns a white 200,000 Bentley, but most days he drives a Toyota sports car. "I've got this spectacularly perfect house, if someone spills some red wine on the carpet I'm going to just look away," says John, who sold his Phones 4u chain in 2006 for almost 1.5bn. ", Now Caudwell knows what's wrong, he's doing all he can to cure him and has a "huge team" of experts helping. "I opened a shop so we could retail them, did accessories, and basically, every opportunity within the mobile phone business we took.". Hydraulic car lift. He is also a speed freak. It was so unique that it really did excite me, mainly from a charitable perspective, because I dont need a house anything like that size.. The philanthropist, who gives back 70% of his fortune for good causes, will use the home as a entertaining and business address for his charitable projects. This Bold, Glitzy Apartment in Dublin Is an Entertainers Dream. Inside Britain's most expensive home: a 250m mega-mansion in Mayfair. It features a nightclub, games room and a car stacker - which which can summon any of John's impressive car collection at the touch of a button. Why Ed Sheeran is both right and wrong to say most pop songs fit over most other pop songs, Joel Dommett: 'Sienna Miller led me through our sex scene. Around four years ago, John decided to embark on a total renovation of what was, he says, a "tasteless gold palace". I was involved in absolutely every aspect of it., But how does the proud philanthropist justify spending such an ostentatious amount of money on a home? Even his girlfriend has left him for someone more normal. It was purchased by Mr Caudwell for 87 million, before the renovation Theres also an Art Deco-inspired, lattice-fronted elevator, a cocktail lounge with low-lit velvet booths and a stage for live music plus an adjoining billiards room with a rose-covered ceiling. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. "We tried everything psychologists, psychiatrists, with varying degrees of success. With his brother Brian, in 1987 John registered Midland Mobile Phones as a mobile phone wholesaler taking 26 Motorola mobiles at 1,350 each. Contact us to discuss the range of architectural services we can provide. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive. His office is a smallish room carpeted with Wilton (white diamonds on a claret background) and lined by posh striped magnolia wallpaper. The group's 1999 turnover was 596m, up from 160m in 1996. The Phones 4 U founder knocked together two mansions to create his dream home, which is the average size of 55 London flats and more than twice the size of the Royal Albert Hall. And in another tweet:"Hanging out in Ibiza with famous friends and partying with famous people, able to do whatever I want, andI've never felt more isolated.". post. Warning of exceptionally low staffing levels as nurses strike, UK running extra evacuation flight to rescue Britons from Sudan, Missile strikes on Ukraine cities leave one dead and dozens injured, MasterChef Australia judge Jock Zonfrillo dies aged 46, Islamic State leader killed in Syria, says Turkey, County lines mum ran selfish sons drugs ring while he was in jail, Coronation allegiance oath in support of King tone deaf, Man, 20, in critical condition after assault in Beckenham, Couple ordered to tear down 80,000 extension in fight with neighbours, Mum says son was too embarrassed to leave killer girlfriend. Expert and Professional Commercial and Residential Car Lift Installation for Commercial & Residential. This account already exists. I told them if they hadn't got the phones they were losing market share. John Caudwell is a striking man, as fit as you'd expect for someone who cycles up to 100 miles a day, every day, in all weathers. John is passionate about property. To help ensure your car lift installation job is a smooth, and hassle-free process, we will pair you with local Arizona professionals who are qualified and experienced with car lift installation and similar services. The master bedroom suite has a huge crystal light finished with a gold leaf trim, plus an emperor-sized bed. A protected practice of any sort can't win. A secluded Hollywood-style super-mansion near Hampstead Heath went up for sale in 2019, with an asking price of 40 million. ", His voice rises enthusiastically with the memory. A Chinese owner, who paid 40 million for a plot in Avenue Road two years ago, is building an even bigger 30,000 sq ft house that could be worth close to 100 million when it is finished. The 25,000 sq ft neo-classical residence in Avenue Road was built on a plot bought for 14 million in 2013 by Greek property developer George Dragoumanos. Although Alta Vista's much-trumpeted announcement that it was doing the same came a few days before, Mr Caudwell's company had run trials last year, and launched its service when the American company was still planning its free launch. I just thought how magnificent it would be for gala evenings, Caudwell toldThe Timesof London about the ballroom. To wind down away from the hustle and bustle of the city, the property boasts an indoor pool with a volcanic lava installation. "Last weekend was pretty tiring," he says. "So I bought it, I think it was 87million.". That way, he says: "I'd find out which was the best way to end up making money. The company made a loss every month for the first two years of operations. He will throw gala evenings, charity balls and hold meetings at the newly revamped property. After a few years of throwing lavish parties, "That taught me a lot. John has covered the walls with photos of his family members recreating snaps of Hollywood royalty in iconic poses, including the likes of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Officers in the West Midlands say cuts mean they can't afford sirens on their cars, so they can "only chase criminals within the speed limit". Last year, the most expensive detached home on the market was a secluded Hollywood-style mansion near Hampstead Heath, which was listed for 40 million. Beside the nightclub with the unique mirrored floor sits a games room with a faux rose-covered ceiling. He used 20,000 sheets of gold leaf throughout the property's opulent interiors. Billionaire businessman John Caudwell bought Audley Street garage and the surrounding buildings in Mayfair for around 155 million in 2011. The renovation of an extraordinary home carved out of two mega mansions in the heart of Mayfair is to be featured in a one-off documentary on Channel 4 tonight. Then, one day in 1987, Mr Caudwell, then 34, went to an electronics shop to buy a mobile phone for his business. "Some of the things I did in my early career were massive learning curves," he says, "because I had no-one to guide me. He sold all Caudwell Group BMW company cars and urged other businesses to do the same. CL. When people said, 'Go away', I'd be thinking, what can I say to the next one? Courtesy of Channel 4. "They saw what we were doing and came and stole our thunder," says Mr Caudwell, smiling. His pre-tax profits last year in this low margin business came in at 14.3m. Try it outhere. As well as a cinema room, there are further sitting rooms spread across the spacious property. WebPROPERTY. But if youre going to make before-and-after property porn, dont try and claim its all forcharity. "That business taught me about the ruthless manipulation of large corporates," he says. The documentary will take a look at the unique engineering tasks and challenges to create a subterranean basement that joins two mansions together, a mechanical car stacker that can take eight cars from street level to storage with ease, a pool with a bespoke installation designed to look like lava and even a dining room featuring a real river - complete with live fish. Sylvester Stallone Snaps Up a $35 Million Palm Beach Estate, Marc Anthony Lists His Massive Waterfront Florida Mansion for $27 Million, Tommy Hilfiger Lists His Regal Connecticut Estate for $47.5 Million, From Bulgari to Porsche: Branded Residences Are Flooding the Prime Marketand Selling. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile, It is 6am, and John Caudwell is on his racing bicycle, speeding along the Staffordshire byways. "That got me thinking, if there's so much discount for two, how much could there be for buying them wholesale," he says. Tonight's show follows the workforce in the final three months of the project, as they try to meet the new deadline of John's birthday on 7 October. Included in the grand scheme is a planned basement nightclub with a mirrored dancefloor, five kitchens, a 120-capacity ballroom and pieces of art that cost more than 300,000. Known as Mayfair house, Caudwells roughly 43,000 sq. 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He purchased the property for 87million, but it is estimated to be worth over twice the amount after the new renovations have been completed. Magazine OK! 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. The narrator assured us that Johns motivation to spend so much on the house is in part to attract a better quality of guest to his yearly charity ball, but the charity itself states that the ball brought in 1.5m in donations in 2018. Chrissy Teigen shows off her super-tidy pantry and even Marie Kondo is impressed! A 17-seater cinema is a real showstopper, with the seats synchronised to lower at the same time if required. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. John Caudwell, the founder of Phones4U, is the latest billionaire to tell us that money hasn't made him happy. The first floor has three bedroom suites, including a master bedroom with walk-in dressing room, and two separate marble bathrooms. It looked good, by the end. He is a man with huge wealth, but one who still counts the pennies, the boy from Stoke who has set his heart on a home in the old money world of Mayfair. You learn very quickly because it costs you torment and trouble." The Phones4U founder - who grew up in Shelton - has created Britain's most expensive home in Mayfair - and you can see it on TV tonight, Want Stoke-on-Trent news emailed to you direct from our journalists?