The newly refurbished premises, a former model-making shop with 700 sq ft of gallery space and a private valuation room, is in Cecil Court, the historic thoroughfare in the heart of London’s theatre district.
A number of dealers already trade from the street.
Sworders’ office will be open on week days from March 18 for valuations, preview events and insurance and probate work. Previously based in Essex, Emma McCann will run the day-to-day activities working closely with Mark Wilkinson, former Christie’s and Bonhams specialist and architect of the firm’s Out of the Ordinary sales. Specialists will make weekly visits to the city and will be available by appointment.
Sworders managing director Paul Martin said: “We have long been working with clients in London, across all of our auction departments. A base in the West End is the natural next step; we have friends and business relationships there and it will be great to be closer to them.”
The office will launch with a preview of lots from the forthcoming Modern and Contemporary Prints sale, on view between March 19 and April 1, with the auction conducted in Essex on April 6.
Some regional auction houses with premises or a saleroom in the London area:
Fellows (Birmingham) Charles St, W1
Tennants (Leyburn) St James’s Sq, SW1
Woolley & Wallis (Salisbury) Clifford St, W1
Sworders (Stansted Mountfitchet) Cecil Court, WC2
Lyon & Turnbull (Edinburgh) Connaught St, W2
Dreweatts/Bloomsbury (Newbury) Pall Mall, SW1 Hansons (Etwall) Teddington, TW11
Bellmans (Wisborough Green) Cavendish Sq, W1
Dawson’s (Maidenhead) Hampstead, NW3
John Pye (Nottingham) Old Bond St, W1
