Bourne Capital
Holding Company | |
Industry | Property investment in London, leisure business owners and operators in London and France |
Founded | 1989 |
Headquarters | London, England, United Kingdom |
Key people |
Robert Bourne FCA (Chairman) Tadhg Flanagan (Group Managing Director) Charles Tippet FCA (Group Finance Director) Sally Greene OBE (CEO Leisure Division) |
Products | Property - London offices, serviced offices, retail units, markets and residential. Leisure: theatres, restaurants, bars, leisure facilities and hotels |
Website | Official Website |
Bourne Capital is an integrated property investment and leisure group in the UK.
Origins
Bourne Capital was founded in 1989 by Robert Bourne. Bourne was previously co-founder of Local London Group (LLG), the then market leader in the London serviced office sector. The company went public in 1986, and was sold three years later for £120 million.
Bourne Capital’s ethos was based on the same formula as LLG, i.e. to generate enhanced revenues from property investments through active management and innovative marketing, however, the new company’s business model was to develop and extend this concept much further.
The company today
The company’s main activities are focused on their ownership and active management of four major London estates situated in Queensway, Waterloo, Chinatown and Islington. Within each of the estates the company has created high profile leisure businesses which enhance the general area, provide facilities for local businesses, tenants and residents, and, importantly, attract footfall from outside each estate. This innovative approach has resulted in its properties being fully let, and revenues being significantly higher than could normally be achieved by traditional property investment companies. The company currently has assets of £250 million.
London Estates
Queensway
Bourne Capital’s Queensway Estate comprises 163,000 square feet (15,100 m2) comprising retail units, 214 apartments, a six level car park for 320 cars, Queens Ice and Bowl and Queensway Market.
Waterloo
The Waterloo Estate comprises 163,000 square feet (15,100 m2) with significant properties on the island site opposite the train and underground stations. It includes offices, serviced offices, retail shops and the Old Vic Theatre and Waterloo Brasserie; the latter are both managed by the group. Bourne Capital is planning to redevelop part of the Waterloo estate to create central London’s only world-class, 10,000-seat auditorium and conference centre.
Chinatown
Bourne Capital’s Chinatown estate comprises 67,000 square feet (6,200 m2) or approximately 60% of Chinatown and includes the Newport Sandringham development, Chinatown Zone, Chinatown Market and Geisha Bar, owned and managed by the group.
Islington
The Islington estate comprises the Collins Music Hall, London’s oldest, which is currently being completely redeveloped to form a state of the art theatre and cultural centre in Islington. Included in the development are 70 apartments, retail and leisure accommodation.
London Leisure and Entertainment
Bourne Capital have interests in theatres, theatrical productions, leisure businesses, restaurants and bars in London. These include Queens Ice and Bowl in Queensway, Ronnie Scotts, Geisha Bar in Chinatown, the Cheyne Walk Brasserie and Waterloo Brasserie.
Old Vic Productions PLC, part of the group, is a leading UK theatrical production company chaired by Bob Diamond and whose CEO is Sally Greene. Productions have included Billy Elliot the Musical, the most successful British musical in recent years, the Vagina Monologues and many others.
Theatres and philanthropic activity
Bourne Capital have restored three important London theatres to their former glory; Richmond Theatre, the Old Vic and the Criterion. The Collins Music Hall in Islington is also currently being redeveloped. In each instance the company have restored the theatre and established a charitable trust to preserve them for the nation. Sally Greene, wife of Robert Bourne is CEO of the Old Vic, working alongside Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director, and Chairman, Sir Elton John. Lord Attenborough appointed by Robert Bourne and Sally Greene is Chairman of the Criterion.
French operations
Bourne Capital have acquired two important hotels in France, situated in St. Tropez and Courchevel, and in 2009, are launching Chateau St Tropez, the first of a series of ‘Private Palaces’ comprising a group of unique rental properties offering unsurpassed luxury facilities.
Special Opportunities Fund
With the advent of challenges in the property and finance sector, Bourne Capital established their own Special Opportunities Fund in June 2008 to co-invest ‘side by side’ with banks, institutions and joint venture partners. The purpose of the fund is to maximise the potential of assets which might otherwise be adversely affected by the financial climate. This is achieved by applying Bourne Capital’s financial model of integrating property and leisure to achieve significantly enhanced returns and medium/long term planning gains.
Notes
External links
- Bourne Capital Official Website - www.bournecapital.com
- Capital Tower - www.capital-tower.co.uk
- Waterloo Business Centre - www.waterloobusinesscentre.com
- Cheyne Walk Brasserie - www.cheynewalkbrasserie.com
- Queensway Market - www.queenswaymarket.co.uk
- The Criterion Theatre - www.criterion-theatre.co.uk
- The Old Vic - www.oldvictheatre.com
- Old Vic Productions PLC - www.oldvicproductions.com
- Waterloo Brasserie - www.waterloobrasserie.co.uk
- Ronnie Scott’s - www.ronniescotts.co.uk
- Integrating Property & Leisure - Articlealley.com