LONDON — Guests including Margot Robbie, Henry Cavill, Theo James, Hayley Atwell and Guy Ritchie stepped out on a hot London night to raise a glass to the opening of RH’s second English location, The Gallery in Mayfair.
Situated between two of London’s most historic fashion districts, New Bond Street and Savile Row, the newly renovated building has been restored in a style reflecting its history. The London opening follows similar ones in Paris and Milan.
Originally built in 1723, the Mayfair building, which spans 54,000 square feet, is one of the last surviving examples of early Georgian architecture. It once housed offices belonging to the Bank of England before becoming — much later — a Jil Sander flagship and then a flagship for Abercrombie & Fitch, which closed in 2021.
“Our journey is to create the first fully integrated luxury home brand in the world, and London feels like the next foundation in building a truly global brand. We believe that by pursuing our hopes and dreams, we inspire others to pursue theirs, and by fighting for what we believe in, we encourage others to do the same,” said Gary Friedman, RH founder, chairman and chief executive officer.
The new space is inspired by the great architects, including Da Vinci, Vitruvius and Palladio, with tall Greco-Roman columns featuring ornate carvings of leaves and scrolls rising to gold-painted, molded ceilings.
Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, Gary Friedman and Hayley Atwell attend the unveiling of RH, The Gallery in Mayfair.
Dave Benett
Guests dined in an expansive room lined with wood-paneled walls while violinists played alongside a DJ as the yellow light from the hand-blown Venetian chandeliers turned everything in the room golden.
With no price tags or salespeople, it felt like a private club rather than a shop floor. There were plush white sofas in almost every room, with guests lounging and kicking up their feet after trekking around the massive space.
Despite the store’s five floors, there were lines forming to enter and exit each room. On every floor, there were new bars and snacks to try, including small caviar pancakes, craft martini cocktails, negroni sbagliatos and many Champagne bars.
On the top floor, there were wooden beams and skylights capturing the sunset.
The first RH to open in England is in the Cotswolds. It is located on a 400-year-old estate designed by Sir John Soane called Aynhoe Park.
The mansion is made from the famous honey-hued Cotswolds limestone, which the ancient Romans used for walls and buildings, and boasts gardens by the 18th-century designer Capability Brown. The lavish interiors are by RH, and there are three restaurants, a wine lounge, tea salon and juicery.
