The Savoy Hotel's recent furniture auction, held as part of its £45 million refurbishment, offered unprecedented bargains, with one buyer acquiring a painting for just £15. Maisie Isabella, who documented her experience on Instagram, also revealed that her mother purchased 11 paintings and four console tables for £50 each, items originally valued at significantly higher prices.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
The Savoy, a five-star luxury hotel on the Strand in central London, opened in 1889 and is considered Britain's first luxury hotel. With standard room rates typically between £550 and £760 per night, its furnishings are equally upscale. When the hotel announced the auction ahead of its extensive renovation, Maisie and her mother seized the chance to own a piece of history.
In her viral Instagram video, which has garnered over 9,000 likes, Maisie explained: "The Savoy Hotel is undergoing a £45 million refurb and me and my mum bought all of their old furniture. Only joking... let me give you some context. The Savoy auctioned off all of their old furniture during their refurb last week and I spent all my time bidding on this auction. I didn't even know this kind of thing existed, but my mum's really interested in it, so she gets all the notifications. But how cool to have a piece of history?"
Remarkable Deals and Missed Opportunities
Maisie shared that she nearly bought a £50,000 wardrobe for just £80 but hesitated due to logistics, later regretting it when she learned the furniture was flat-pack. She also mentioned a lamp worth £1,500 that sold for only £90 to another bidder. The auction featured a wide range of items, including mirrors, sideboards, large vases, pots, and cabinets, with some fetching surprisingly low prices.
"Some lamps sold for over £600 but my mum got the console tables for £50 each," Maisie noted. "They're by an Italian designer and they're lowkey really, really expensive." She also purchased a Japanese-style painting for £15, which she described as a unique keepsake.
Hidden Costs and Viewer Reactions
Maisie cautioned potential bidders to be aware of additional fees: "Not to be fooled, a 44% tax and a lift-out fee is applicable on every item purchased." This warning resonated with viewers, one of whom commented: "Last year I bought two sets of wall scones and a mirror, and I didn't realise the 44% markup on it. Thank Got I paid the lowest prices on them, weird how some went for loads and others cheap."
The video sparked widespread interest, with comments like "How did I not know about this?!" and "This is so cool." Another viewer added, "I'm sending it this to all my friends with a house in London."
Refurbishment and Preservation
The Savoy's refurbishment, which began in August 2024, is being carried out in phases through 2027 to minimize disruption to guests. The project aims to preserve the hotel's Grade II-listed Edwardian and Art Deco heritage while introducing modern amenities such as wireless bedside charging points and bespoke color-adjustable vanity mirrors.
For Maisie and her mother, the auction was more than a shopping spree—it was a chance to own a tangible piece of London's luxury history at a fraction of the cost, despite the added taxes and fees.
