A duplex apartment inside the former Harrods chocolate factory and bakery has sold for £18 million to a European buyer who wanted to live next door to the London luxury store.
The sale of the six-bedroom, 6,404-square-foot property is one of the biggest apartment transactions in the UK capital this year.
The property covers the fourth and fifth floors of the Harrods Depository building on Trevor Square, next to the world-famous department store.
The Harrods Depository, which was built in 1913 and designed by architect CW Stephens, who also created the department store, housed offices and manufacturing facilities for Harrods's own-brand food, chocolates and drinks.
There was even a secret tunnel that ran between the Depository and the store so wedding cakes and other confectionery items made exclusively for royal families in Britain and the Gulf as well as wealthy American visitors could be transported directly and discreetly to Harrods.
Between 2000 and 2002, the Depository was converted into 40 luxury apartments, with a covered parking complex, landscaped courtyard garden and 24-hour uniformed security and concierge.
Jeremy Gee, managing director of Beauchamp Estates, the agents for the sale, described the Depository as “one of the most sought-after super-prime apartment buildings in Knightsbridge, literally adjacent to the Harrods store”.
“The six-bedroom duplex apartment offers extensive living space with grand proportions throughout and has a fantastic history as the former bakery and confectionery factory where Harrods own-brand fresh bakery, luxury chocolates and Easter eggs were prepared and stored,” he explained.
The apartment's interiors were created by luxury designers Candy London.
It has a large entrance hall, main living room with adjoining dining room and a family room.
The Poggenpohl kitchen, with Gaggenau appliances, opens on to a breakfast terrace and a flexible room that can be used as a gymnasium, exercise studio or bedroom.
The lower floor, where the en suite bedrooms are located, can be entered via a striking curved staircase. The principal suite has two walk-in dressing rooms and twin en suite bathrooms.
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'Shakuntala Devi'
Starring: Vidya Balan, Sanya Malhotra
Director: Anu Menon
Rating: Three out of five stars
What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
