Annabel's

Annabel's is a London nightclub, located at Berkeley Square, London. Founded in 1962 by entrepreneur Mark Birley and named after his then-wife Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Annabel's was the first member-only nightclub in the UK, and has famously catered to members of the establishment and the super-rich. It counts among its members HRH The Prince of Wales. In recent years however, the clientele have become less elevated in stature and the club now caters more to celebrities.

Controversy

Annabel's has seen its fair share of controversy. When Mark Birley became wheelchair bound, he turned over the management of Annabel's to his children Robin Birley and India Jane Birley. However in early 2006, he dismissed his son on grounds of inappropriate conduct and mismanagement, deciding instead to run the club with his daughter.

Richard Caring

On the evening of 5th June 2007, after more than a year of negotiations, Annabel's was acquired by the clothing tycoon and Ivy owner Richard Caring in a deal thought to be worth £90 million. [ [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=460372&in_page_id=1770 Aristocrats' favourite nightclub Annabel's sold for £90m] , Daily Mail, June 6, 2007. Accessed March 25, 2008] The deal also included the purchase of four other private members' clubs including Harry's Bar.

References

* [http://www.zoominfo.com/people/birley_mark_493492868.aspx Mark Birley]