1 Palace Place, an Overview

Built on the former site of the Westminster Theatre, 1 Palace Place sits atop London’s newest theatre, The St James. With interiors designed by world famous designer Nicky Haslam these 35 exclusive, show-stopping apartments provide a dramatic setting for the ultimate in contemporary city living.

Developed by Yolanda Ltd who enlisted the likes of LST architects for the architecture of the main apartments and Foster Wilson for the development of the new St James Theatre every detail has been meticulously scripted ensuring that 1 Palace Place offers everything the worlds style elite could require in a modern city apartment. The mix of predominantly 2 and 3 bedroom apartments boast luxuriously high specification finishes with the inimitable taste and style that Nicky Haslam is famous for.

A History of 1 Palace Place

12 Palace Street, the actual site of 1 Palace Place has a history littered with colourful characters and buildings that are worthy of their own drama.

Originally the site was developed in 1766 by the rather irreverent Rev. Dr William Dodd, who is believed to have won a lottery and used the money to build Charlotte Chapel, a popular church frequented by the Royals and London’s Aristocracy. However Dodd, better known as the ‘Macaroni Parson’ was in true theatrical style an exuberant and extravagant character that was constantly in debt and lived a life of profligate frivolity.

Dodd’s lifestyle was to catch up with him on numerous occasions as he was forever in and out of prison and eventually found guilty of fraud and sentenced to hang at Tyburn gallows. Some records state he was the last man to hang at Tyburn thereby giving Dodd in death the fame he pursued in life, but alternate records show this was not the case. Either way, this comedic figure’s life ended in tragedy.

However, Charlotte Chapel remained as a church right up until the 20^th Century when J Stanley Beard, an architect renowned for his development of impressive Cinema’s redeveloped the chapel and turned it into the St James Picture House, opening in 1923.

Eight years later the building was once again redeveloped, this time by Alderson Burrell Horne. Horne was more famously known as ‘Anmer Hall’ a pseudonym Horne took on as an impresario and was actually the name of his ancestral home in Norfolk. (Yes, that is the same Anmer Hall that Kate & Wills currently own as a ten bedroom country bolthole). The newly named ‘Westminster Theatre’ was an instant success, the theatre making use of the chapel’s crypt, turning it into the actor’s dressing rooms. In 1966 the building was significantly expanded and further developed into the Westminster Arts Centre becoming a powerhouse for contemporary drama appealing to mass audiences and housing a popular bar and café.

 Towards the turn of the century however the theatre had fallen into disrepair and despite campaigners attempting to save the original theatre the council agreed to demolish the building in 2002. Rather coincidentally a fire broke out in the same year, destroying much of the interior ensuring that development would go ahead rather than any restructuring or rebuilding, a swan song worthy of any character that once tread its boards…

 Completed in 2012 the current St James Theatre presents a new act in the sites history, with the glamour and elegance of any young ingénue.

Living & Investing In 1 Palace Place

‘Okay Mr De Mille, I’m ready for my close-up…’ It could be said that 1 Palace Place has actually been designed to live life on film. In a world of high definition the finish of each apartment is spectacular and would pass even the most intrusive scrutiny. Interior Designer Nicky Haslam is no stranger to flash bulb situations and 1 Palace Place reflects his experience and knowledge of designing for Film Stars, Actors and Royalty.

From the first act though to the finale, 1 Palace Place never ceases to keep the audience captivated. The one, two and three bedroom configurations of the apartments would suit astute singles, stylish duos or financially-savvy families. With natural limestone flooring in the entrance hall, kitchen and wet areas, solid oak flooring in the living areas and wool/silk mix carpets in the bedrooms these apartments would satisfy the most demanding primadonna.

However, unlike the dramas that unfold on the stage of the St James Theatre, the 35 apartments that make up 1 palace place are grounded in the real world. Practical, thoughtful touches can be found throughout the development, whether it be the car lift to the 1^st floor internal car park or the secure entry system. Of course the 24 hour concierge allows you to continue to play the leading role as their 5 star services ensure that the day to day drudgery of life is barely noticed.

That is not to say that this exclusive Palace Street development is all smoke and mirrors but the smoked-glass splash-backs in the kitchen and recessed mirrors in the bathrooms certainly add to the luxury and glamour of these chic, urban apartments.

1 Palace Place & Beyond

Palace Place is not just an ad-hoc moniker suffering from delusions of grandeur and bearing no relation to its situ. Buckingham Palace is within 200 metres of the development making it one of the closet residences to Britain’s Monarchy.

As a picture house and theatre in the twentieth century its performances attracted the Royal family on numerous occasions and the new St James Theatre regularly attracts theatrical luminaries to its widely heralded Carrara restaurant which offers fantastic value and does brisk trade as a standalone restaurant outside of theatre hours.

Incidentally the restaurant is named after the marble that the main staircase is sculpted from, Carrara Marble, sourced from a region north of Tuscany. The staircase, called ‘the Final Encore’ was designed by sculptor, designer and furniture maker Mark Humphrey, who was previously business partner to Nicky Haslam. Humphrey as a designer would be familiar to most purchasers of 1 Palace Place as his name crops up regularly in the most stylish of magazines not least the award winning Financial Times magazine, ‘How to Spend It’, who cannot seem to get enough of his masculine sculptural design.

Humphrey’s use of dark wood, marble and sleek curves has made him the designer of choice for men seeking the ultimate, luxurious bachelor pads. This writer cannot deny having a bit of crush on Humphrey, after meeting him when I was on my knees in a shop fitting him for a pair of shoes when I was a student. Needless to say his shoes were also incredibly stylish, being Jeffery-West, this decadently gentleman’s emporium being found only a short walk from 1 Palace Place, through St James Park, up to Jermyn Street to the Piccadilly Arcade.

In theatrical terms if Palace Place is a royal box then the whole of London is its stage, its proximity to all the best that London has to offer being no more than an exit stage right. With some of the best restaurants, shops and galleries all being within walking distance of 1 Palace Place this is a development that will please the crowd but only a select few with have access back stage to.