JUST over a year after they held the sale of the contents of The Savoy Hotel, Bonhams are to embark on a second refurbishment sale of a London landmark.
On January 20 the auctioneers will sell 120 lots from the Café
Royal in their Knightsbridge salerooms. The famous Regent Street
restaurant was established in 1865 by Parisian wine Merchant Daniel
Nicolas, who arrived on the run from a prison sentence for
bankruptcy with just £5 in his pocket.
It was a celebrity haunt from the outset and its roll-call of
visitors includes film stars, politicians, writers, artists and
royalty from Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill to Mick Jagger and
Princess Diana.
But it is to be turned into a five star hotel and will finally
close its doors on December 22.
Bonhams will offer the contents without reserve. Humidors and
brandy caskets from the cellars accompany Venetian chandeliers from
the Napoleon suite and the original boxing ring used for the black
tie boxing matches.
The sale will go on view on December 21 and 22.
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