Chanel to expand in London with new Mayfair office

Fashion powerhouse Chanel is sashaying into a new Mayfair head office as part of a London expansion plan.

The Paris-headquartered firm has just signed for around 20,000 square feet of offices at 1 Bruton Street from a Middle Eastern landlord, the Evening Standard can reveal.

It is known as the Time & Life Building, and features sculptures from Henry Moore on the outside.

West End property sources said the perfume and bag maker, advertised by Lily-Rose Depp, has taken the space to add to smaller offices in Bond Street. One claimed it would accommodate plans to shift some jobs from New York to London.

Chanel said: “Chanel is in the process of organisational evolutions and will expand its presence in London. This may indeed lead to some moves to London for people from different places.”

The private company is owned by the billionaire brothers Alain and Gérard Wertheimer. They are the grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, one of designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s early business partners.

Its new London office is owned by a Middle Eastern investor advised by Astrea Asset Management.

It was let by agents GVA and Knight Frank.