The highly successful entrepreneur, proprietor and chairman of Thomas Goode & Co, Lord Rumi Verjee, will be selling his historic Victorian building in Mayfair for £80 million.
Lord Verjee is also known as the man responsible for bringing Domino's Pizza into the UK in the 1980s. He is also a Member of the World President's Organization, the Advisory Board of the British Olympic Association and the Global Leadership Foundation. Lord Verjee was previously a co-owner of Watford FC, with Sir Elton John.
The peer will be selling the building, which is situated on 17-22 South Audley Street in Central London, to Johnny Sandelson, who is a property investor backed by Cain Hoy Enterprises. Cain Hoy Enterprises is an American private company associated to a takeover bid for Tottenham Hotspurs FC in 2014.
Thomas Goode, a tableware, china, silverware and glass emporium is currently situated in the Mayfair building, that is being sold. The emporium, which supplies to the royal household, has been in Lord Verjee's ownership since 1995. However, it has been revealed that the emporium will continue to be in that building, but as a tenant on a rolling contract. The ultimate aim is to attract luxury retailers to move into the building.
Speaking to Asian Voice exclusively, Lord Verjee said, “Like many buildings of its period, 19 South Audley street needs development to ensure it remains fit for purpose for generations to come. For this reason it makes sense for the ownership of the building to be with professional property investors and developers, and for our team to focus on the Thomas Goode brand and its long and established heritage.”
Rumi Verjee was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), in 2009, for charitable services. He was also appointed to the House of Lords by Queen Elizabeth II, in 2013, as a Liberal Democrat Peer where he sits as Lord Verjee of Portobello in Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
