At your service: London’s most exclusive concierge services
Money-rich but time-poor? Whether you need an elephant delivered to a party or a private meeting with the Pope, these renowned concierges cater to every whim imaginable
Who do you call when you need last-minute tickets to Hamilton, a suite at the Ritz over Christmas or fancy a few weeks in the sun at short notice? Your trusty concierge company of course. While the majority of us will have to make do with booking months in advance and doing our own admin, for the cash-rich but time-poor, having a team of experts on hand willing to draw on their little black books and pull strings on your behalf at a moment’s notice is invaluable. From the specialists capable of hunting down that vintage Rolex to the services promising no request is too small (or large), here’s our guide to the London concierge companies to call on now.
Luxury London Concierge
Who? For nearly a decade Luxury London has been your guide to everything that’s great about the capital – and now we’re bringing our expertise off the page and into real life with the Luxury London Concierge.
Why? Created in collaboration with Innerplace (see below), think of the Luxury London Concierge as your coolest, most well-connected friend, the one who always knows where to find the hottest table in town and never has a problem getting behind the velvet rope. Offering a variety of membership options, as well as the ability to accommodate one-off requests, your wish is our command.
Extraordinary requests: Whatever your heart desires, the Luxury London Concierge is on hand to help. Want to plan a proposal at the tip of the Shard, go for an after-hours shopping spree at Harrods or plan a once-in-a-lifetime trip around the world? Our experts are just a few clicks away.
Prices: From £100 per month, one-off requests on application
Visit concierge.luxurylondon.co.uk
Empearl
Who? Less a classic concierge and more a full-service lifestyle management company, Empearl is the result of a decade’s worth of experience working for exacting high-net-worth clients by founder Megan Porter.
Why? Whether it’s planning an unforgettable round-the-world trip or a special celebration, everything Empearl does is grounded in the principles of Details, Trust and Flexibility. No matter how big or how small the request, the Empearl team is on hand day and night so you can rest easy in the knowledge that all the finer points are being taken care of for you.
Extraordinary requests: Now that would be telling… Empearl excels in creating both high-profile international events and intimate, memorable moments so whether you’re planning a party for 200 or a proposal for two, you’re in safe hands. The Empearl mission is simple: helping you experience the best the world has to offer, fuss-free.
Prices: POA
Visit empearl.co
Innerplace
Who? Innerplace offers one of the most bespoke, personalised services with peerless personal treatment across all levels of membership. At some of the larger concierges, customer service often slips, with clients handled between various members of staff. At Innerplace, members are assigned a devoted lifestyle manager, with the opportunity to meet face-to-face at their exclusive monthly events.
Why? Innerplace offers exclusive access, particularly to members’ clubs, top restaurants and VIPs events. Innerplace has a reputation for being one of London’s most ethical, consumer-focused services with reasonable, honest prices. They never oversell or overpromise on what they can deliver. Innerplace’s primary focus is London for Londoners but has excellent access to international travel and events through its extensive black book of contacts, gleaned over 17 years of working in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Extraordinary requests: Most recently, they organised a privately catered dinner in Kensington Palace for a distinguished family visiting London; meet and greets with everyone from Rihanna to Mikhail Baryshnikov; the most bizarre request they’ve fielded, however, came from a US client who absolutely had to have a much-loved salt beef sandwich delivered from the ‘Carve Up’ concession at the O2 to his hotel in Las Vegas. They were all prepped with restaurant, flight, personal delivery girl but alas, US customs informed them it would be seized on arrival. A gift-wrapped salt beef bagel from the slightly more convenient Carnegie Deli was delivered instead.
Prices: Lifestyle tier £100 joining fee + £100 per month; Red tier £6,000 + £600 joining fee (there’s also a Jetset tier for international visitors looking for a short-term concierge in London)
Capital A List
Who? Founded in 2010, Capital A List specialises in getting you behind the velvet curtain. From tables at London’s most in-demand restaurants to the capital’s hottest party spots, it works with some of London’s most-esteemed venues, including Sexy Fish, Scott’s, Cecconi’s and Isabel.
Why? We’ve all had those days. You’ve woken up in the mood to do something fun – but so has everyone else in town. Every good brunch spot is booked, come cocktail hour the bars will be full and good luck sitting down for dinner at anything near a reasonable hour. Step in Capital A List. As well as organising extraordinary events and experiences, it’s your ticket to getting your name on the guest list and making sure you have a great time, every time.
Extraordinary requests: It’s far too discreet to divulge but, suffice to say, if you need a table seemingly magicked up from nowhere, your wish is their command.
Prices: Gold membership from £75 per month; Platinum membership from £150 per month
Quintessentially
Who? Arguably the most well-known of London’s high-end concierge companies, Quintessentially was founded by three partners (one of whom is a nephew of Camilla, Queen Consort).
Why? Counting Madonna, Kate Moss, Richard Branson and P Diddy as clients must mean something. No request is impossible unless it’s illegal or morally dubious; it does happen (hitman anyone?). Expanding into one of the world’s biggest concierge agencies with more than 2,500 staff in 60 offices around the world means Quintessentially has a vast array of expertise and a network to match. The CEO also happens to be a lady, capturing the zeitgeist of our times.
Extraordinary requests: Arranging for Elton John to play at a party; covering an entire beach with carpets to protect the feet of clients; securing the deal of a £55 million penthouse close to Green Park.
Prices: Top clients are rumoured to pay up to £150,000 a year
Style Concierge by Melody
Who? Founded by personal stylist Melody Mashilompane, who worked for Harrods, Gucci and Louis Vuitton before going out on her own, Style Concierge by Melody offers services dedicated to helping clients overhaul their style and refocus their wardrobes.
Why? Finding yourself staring at your closet and finding nothing to wear more and more often? It may be time to call in the professionals. Melody and her team provide an end-to-end service, helping you declutter and streamline your wardrobe, organise your closet and then refill it with fresh style perfectly suited to your personal tastes and budget. Plus you’ll learn some styling tricks along the way.
Extraordinary requests: Fashion is far from one size fits all. Style Concierge by Melody will take the time to get to know you, your preferences and your go-to pieces to tailor its services to your exact needs. Want to throw everything out and start again? No problem.
Prices: Consultations from £30; wardrobe detox from £100; personal shopping and wardrobe management from £150
Visit styleconciergebymelody.com
Stratfield Fairlane
Who? For more than 30 years, Stratfield Fairlane has been at the beck and call of some of the world’s most elite private estates and households, meeting extraordinary requests and creating unforgettable experiences. With expertise in dining, travel services, property management, fine art and staff, the group are very much a 360-degree service.
Why? Stratfield Fairline offers a private, bespoke and professional service to all of its clients. Taking a holistic approach to a client’s needs, there’s simply no limit: tutors, tailors, personal shoppers – you name it, they offer it. With many clients owning properties around the world, property management is also an important part of what Stratfield Fairline does.
Extraordinary requests: Arranging for elephants to be delivered to a Royal household for a day; organising for shoes and handbags straight off the catwalk to be delivered to a client within 24 hours; abseiling from a helicopter into a private ski resort in the Alps – the team loves the outrageous and a challenge.
Prices: No annual membership required – a rarity in the industry
Visit stratfieldfairlane.co.uk
Velocity Black
Who? The premise is simple. Download the app, and “power the ultimate lifestyle from your pocket”. Founded by two school friends, one of them an ex-Goldman Sachs banker, Velocity Black has experienced extraordinary growth and its app is now live in 60 cities across the globe.
Why? Seamlessly blending the world of luxury and tech, Velocity Black delivers a fast, convenient concierge service right in the palm of your hands. With Elsa Hosk, Gigi Hadid and numerous glamorous figures among its members, Velocity Black is a luxury concierge service redefined for the 21st century. Members have access to a 24/7 chat service with a guaranteed response time of one minute. Fancy a table at the most exclusive restaurant in Paris or want to be put on the guestlist for a private yacht party in Monaco? They’ll sort you out.
Extraordinary requests: Flying to the edge of space in a fighter jet; swimming with Orca whales in Norway.
Prices: £2,400 per annum (inc. initiation fee of £600)
Knightsbridge Circle
Who? Founded in 2012 by Stuart McNeil, Knightsbridge Circle is an invitation-only members club. After working for American Express and launching the Elite Tier for Centurion, McNeil’s love of hospitality led him to create an elite concierge service.
Why? Not just anyone can be a Knightsbridge Circle member. Its team hand-selects those it believes fit the brand’s ethos of going after everything life has to offer and its numbers are capped at around 50, meaning Knightsbridge Circle supposedly has the highest staff-to-member ratio in Europe – a huge asset when delivering a bespoke service.
Extraordinary requests: Playing a round of golf with a former champion at Augusta during the Masters; privatising a temple in Bangkok in a ritual conducted by monks.
Prices: POA
Visit knightsbridgecircle.co.uk
Nota Bene Global
Who? Founded by Anthony Lassman and his wife Elaine, Nota Bene Global is less of a concierge service and more of a private members’ club. After many years of working in the ultra-prime residential market, Lassman’s clients asked for lifestyle experiences to suit their grandiose properties. One thing led to another, and Nota Bene Global now counts Michael Kors and David Lauren amongst its clients.
Why? Delectable tips, insider secrets and a focus on experiences for the discerning client make Nota Bene Global the go-to for individuals who want to experience luxury destinations and experiences before the rest of the mob.
Extraordinary requests: A meeting with the Pope for a client’s mother; a chartered Gulfstream to the Bahamas the very evening the client called, as the weather was ‘too cold’ in Canada.
Prices: POA
