Mark Birley

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Mark Birley
Born
Marcus Oswald Hornby Lecky Birley

(1930-05-29)29 May 1930
Died24 August 2007(2007-08-24) (aged 77)
NationalityBritish
EducationEton College
Alma materUniversity College, Oxford
Known forEntrepreneur
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1954; div. 1975)​
ChildrenRupert Birley
Robin Birley
India Jane Birley
Parent(s)Sir Oswald Birley
Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike
RelativesMaxime de la Falaise (sister)
Hugh Hornby Birley (2x great-grandfather)

Marcus Oswald Hornby Lecky Birley (29 May 1930 – 24 August 2007), known as Mark Birley, was a British entrepreneur known for his investments in the hospitality industry.[1]

Early life[edit]

Mark Birley was the son of Sir Oswald Birley (1880–1952), the royal and society portrait painter, and the artist and gardener Rhoda Vava Mary Lecky Pike. His sister, Maxime de la Falaise (1922–2009), became a noted fashion model of the 1950s; Maxime's daughter, Loulou de la Falaise (1948–2011), was a muse to the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent.

He was educated at Eton where he excelled at drawing. After doing his National Service he went up to University College, Oxford, to read Philosophy, Politics and Economics but he left after failing his first year exams.[2] He then started working as a copywriter for J. Walter Thompson.[3]

Career[edit]

In 1963, Birley founded Annabel's at Berkeley Square in the Mayfair district in central London. The club was named for his wife, the former Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart, and it was the first of its kind: a member-only nightclub that catered to an exclusive clientele, including the Prince of Wales.[2]

In 1972, Birley opened Mark's Club and continued to expand his portfolio in the restaurant, nightclub and hotel business. He became the owner of the Annabel's Group, which includes Mark Birley Holdings Limited.[4] In 1979 Birley opened Harry's Bar on South Audley Street in Mayfair. It became noted for its Italian cuisine.[5] He launched a men's fragrance line, Mark Birley for Men, in 1996, in collaboration with the perfumers Frédéric Malle and Pierre Bourdon. Birley also designed the former family offices of Peter Palumbo, Baron Palumbo, in the City of London into a member's club, The Walbrook Club, which opened in 2000.[6]

In 1989 Birley established the Bath & Racquets Club on Brook's Mews.[7]

Personal life[edit]

On 10 March 1954, he married Lady Annabel Vane-Tempest-Stewart (born 1934), daughter of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry (1902–1955).[2] Annabel Birley became the mistress of Birley's former friend Sir James Goldsmith (1933–1997), and gave birth to two of Goldsmith's children while she was still married to, but separated from, Birley. The Birleys divorced in 1975.[8] Mark and Annabel had three children:

As a child Birley's son Robin was mauled and badly scarred for life by a tiger at the private zoo of family friend John Aspinall (1926–2000).[citation needed] In 1986, Birley's other son, Rupert, disappeared in Togo and was never found. He is assumed to be deceased.[9]

In his last years, Birley himself was disabled and needed to use a wheelchair. For a time, he turned over the reins of his businesses to his two surviving children.[4] In 2006, however, Birley dismissed his son Robin and returned to the helm of his empire, which until his death he ran with his daughter India Jane.[2]

Birley lived at Thurloe Lodge in South Kensington for 30 years.[10][11] India Jane sold Thurloe Lodge in 2011 for £17 million.[11] An auction of 500 of Birley's possessions from the house was held at Sotheby's in March 2013.[11] The auction realised £3.85 million.[11]

Death[edit]

He died on 24 August 2007, aged 77, following a stroke.[2][4] His memorial service was held at St Paul's Church in Knightsbridge.[12]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mark Birley". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2007. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e Vat, Dan van der (29 August 2007). "Mark Birley". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  3. ^ "Wild About Harry's". www.vanityfair.com. 12 October 2005.
  4. ^ a b c d Jebb, Louis (2 September 2007). "Mark Birley". The Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  5. ^ "Obituary: Mark Birley". The Times. No. 69101. 27 August 2007. p. 43. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
  6. ^ Hall, Amanda (10 June 2000). "City Profile: The king of clubs". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 16 July 2012.
  7. ^ "When playing the game means following the dress code". The Times. No. 63383. 2 May 1989. p. 21. Retrieved 19 January 2022.
  8. ^ "Mark Birley". The Daily Telegraph. 27 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  9. ^ a b "FindArticles.com – CBSi". Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  10. ^ Bloomfield, Ruth (19 April 2013). "Birley house set for demolition". The Times. No. 70863. p. 102. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d "Mark Birley: 'His things were thrown to the wolves'". Daily Telegraph. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  12. ^ "London". Vanity Fair. December 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2022.

Sources[edit]

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