Paris-born restaurateur Pierre Condou is to open an exclusive members' club at the top of Centre Point which has been
recently relaunched and rebranded by Sectorlight on behalf of
client, Targetfollow.
Centre Point has always been one of the most talked-about buildings in West End property circles since it was built in 1966. And with Pierre Condou opening an exclusive private members' club, Paramount, on the top three floors later this year, Targetfollow's 200,000 sq ft building is set to become one of the most talked-about venues in the West End.
Condou made his name among the Capital's social fraternity with his previously owned restaurants Bistro Bruno on Frith Street and L'Odeon on Regent Street, and for the last seven years he has been running the successful private members' club Century, which covers four floors at 61-63 Shaftesbury Avenue.
'The West End is such a crowded and busy place that people like a place of their own with their own peer group and of like mind,' says Paris-born Condou.
Condou has always been a fan of Centre Point and first had the idea of opening a private members' club at the building five years ago.
'I have always loved the architecture of the iconic Centre Point, the patterns and play of shadow and light on the building. Plus, it's so central and, of course, when you are up there, nothing in central London has those views,' he says. 'The previous landlord [Blackmoor] had the idea of a private members club and approached several operators. I was bowled over by the potential and we came to heads of terms. Then it sold up to Targetfollow.'
Condou has negotiated a 35-year lease with Targetfollow on the 31st, 32nd and 33rd floors, as well as space in the basement for back of house, kitchen space, cold rooms, a wine cellar and storage. In return, Condou promises a 'stunning eatery, private members' club and events space open from breakfast through till late' that will have a 'spectacular interior' to complement the panoramic views over London when it opens in late summer this year.
The 31st floor will house an events space that can be hired to non-members for occasions and events, be they private or public such as movie premier after parties, which can take up to 350 cocktail party guests or 150 diners.
The 32nd floor will be a private members bar and restaurant serving modern European fine dining, as well as 'comfort food', while the 33rd floor will be a private champagne and cocktail bar. It will also have its own dedicated entrance stairs outside to the north of the building that will lead to an exclusive reception area on a mezzanine floor before members ascend in the lift.
20th century
Condou says the Paramount club will have a different look and feel to his other club: 'Century is in a 19th-century building, so it lends itself to leather, wood and brick. Paramount will have a more 1960s-early 1970s feel using the vernacular of the era.'
The clientele is also likely to differ.
'Century is popular with the media and creative industries,' he says. 'Paramount will have a more eclectic mix of members covering a broader church of people.'
Members will have to pay an annual fee, which Condou would not reveal, but at Century it is £500.
Trevor Shelley, senior partner of leisure agency Shelley Sandzer, is confident Condou will make a success of the club.
'He's an unusual character in a nice way. He's very unassuming and has a certain magic about him. He will do very well there [at Centre Point]. People will not want a bog standard club, but something interesting with a mystique. He's got the talent and the experience to do just that.'
Ian Fox, Targetfollow's executive director of property, believes the club will be a big draw for tenants. 'It will be a fantastic cap on top of the building that will continue to establish Centre Point as a destination and focal point,' he says. 'It will also help retain tenants in the building and attract others. Talent agency William Morris came to Centre Point because it knew Pierre was coming here.'
Not that Centre Point needs much help attracting more tenants. With recent lettings to oil companies Saudi Aramco and PetroChina International, and another one and a half floors in solicitors' hands, Centre Point is now 100% let. A celebratory drink in Paramount seems a certainty.