Mystery Hong Kong buyer completes US$13.4 million Corinthia Hotel London penthouse deal in just 72 hours

A Hong Kong multimillionaire has bought a penthouse at the Corinthia Hotel London for £10.75 million (US$13.4 million) in a deal that was sealed in 72 hours, according to property agent Aston Chase on Thursday.

The identity of the buyer remains unknown. Aston Chase said in a press release that the buyer and his wife were regular visitors to London and the Corinthia Hotel London was their favourite hotel in the British capital.

The purchase was the biggest deal in Whitehall, where the hotel is located, in the last five years.

The four-bedroom penthouse covers 3,703 square feet, with the price working out to just under £3,000 per square foot.

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“Benefiting from a generous budget, the couple wanted to purchase ‘an exceptional’ London pied-à-terre, ideally a property with immaculately presented new interiors, yet also offering history and character,” the statement said.

The Corinthia Hotel London was originally built in 1885 as a hotel and was a favourite haunt of King Edward VII. Between 1936 to 2007 it served as the Air Ministry and Ministry of Defence, before being refurbished and reopened in 2011 as the Corinthia Hotel London.

The couple had initially looked at other luxury residences in Mayfair, Chelsea, St John’s Wood and Regent’s Park but when they learnt that the top floor home at the Corinthia Hotel was for sale a deal was swiftly agreed, within under 72 hours.

The trophy home provides the new Hong Kong owner with 24/7 5-star hotel room service and direct internal access to the spa, restaurants, cocktail bars and lounges of the adjoining Corinthia Hotel.

The Hong Kong buyer was introduced by Simon Deen, director and partner at Aston Chase, and the vendor was represented by Knight Frank. The stamp duty on the deal was £1.2 million.