Corinthia Hotel interiors: neighbouring penthouse sells for £10 million — but only after the beds were changed

A multi-millionaire has bought the penthouse beside his favourite hotel, the Corinthia in Whitehall, but only after the beds and mattresses were swapped to the hotel's chosen brands.

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Jonathan Prynn, Business Editor @JonPrynn18 September 2019

They say you cannot put a price on a good night’s sleep. But in the case of a Hong Kong tycoon looking for a London pied-à-terre the bill has come in at £10.75 million.

The multi-millionaire businessman, who had viewed properties in Mayfair, Chelsea, St John’s Wood and Regent’s Park, snapped up a serviced penthouse adjoining his favourite hotel, the Corinthia in Whitehall, within 72 hours of it coming on the market because that is where he had enjoyed his best nights’ rest.

However, the deal came close to collapsing because the beds, mattresses and linen provided for the apartment were not identical to those at the hotel, according to agents involved in the deal.

Simon Deen, director at estate agents Aston Chase, who advised the buyer, said: “It must be the only property deal in London where a mattress has helped to seal the deal.”

Good night: 10 Whitehall Place. The buyer wanted his penthouse to have the same beds as the hotel next door

The four double beds in the residence have now been ripped out and replaced with those from British manufacturer Hypnos, which supplies the hotel as well as Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

The buyer and his wife also insisted on the same bed linen and throws to recreate the experience of sleeping at the Corinthia in as much detail as possible.

The fifth-floor lateral apartment is one of 11 at 10 Whitehall Place, which previously housed the Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Fishereries.

It has 24-hour access to room service at the hotel. Mr Deen added: “Hong Kong buyers want homes with pristine, brand new interiors, but they also love British history so properties like the Corinthia Hotel which have an illustrious history, room service and uniformed staff really appeal to them.”

Features include a private fifth-floor lift lobby, entrance hall with gold gilded ceiling, hand-embroidered, hand-painted silk wall panels and guest powder room clad in Tunisian black and gold marble.

Prime address: Corinthia Hotel in Whitehall is among London's most luxurious hotels

There is a media room, an eight-seat dining room and a Bulthaup-designed kitchen and breakfast room.

The £10.75 million price, equivalent to just under £3,000 per sq ft, is thought to be the highest paid in Whitehall for at least five years.

The Corinthia is among London’s most luxurious hotels and was the subject of BBC documentary A Hotel For The Super Rich & Famous.

Guests have included Beyoncé, Jay-Z, George Clooney and Rihanna. Donald Jr, Eric, Ivanka and Tiffany Trump were reported to have stayed during the US president’s state visit to London this summer.