Son of Annabel's Founder to Open Club in Palm Beach

A London private members’ club owner is closing in on a deal for a venue in Palm Beach, with the ambition of creating a rival to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago and to take advantage of an influx of wealthy Brits to the Florida region.

Entrance to Annabel's in Berkeley Square

Robin Birley is understood to be close to securing a property for his latest club. Robin is the son of Mark Birley who opened Annabel's in London's Mayfair in 1963, becoming one of the world's most famous night clubs, known for hosting royalty ad legions of celebrity. Clearly, the apple didn't fall too fa from the tree, as Robin Birley has become a successful club entrepreneur too. He set up and owns two London clubs: Oswald’s and 5 Hertford Street.

The Palm Beach property will be his most lavish venue yet, with the flavour of a country club rather than a city bolthole. Sources say he is in the process of looking at art and consulting top interior designers to create a more flashy, American feel.

Birley hopes to compete with Trump’s club and offer a more discreet, but still opulent, venue for wealthy people to relax after a round of golf and to party beside the pool.

Exterior of 5 Hertford Street

While 5 Hertford Street is a warren of cosy, firelit rooms in which to whisper secrets and strike deals, the Palm Beach location will be more extravagant, as part of a chain that allows members of Birley’s London clubs access to US venues. Birley opened a club, Maxime’s, on New York’s Madison Avenue last year.

Alistair Brown, chief executive of West Palm Beach Properties, told The Guardian that business from Britons is booming. “We have been based here for 25 plus years, and yes we have seen remarkable growth in demand from the UK. I regularly travel between Florida and London meeting families who are considering both relocating or spending winters here. The advent of the traditional UK club entering this market will work nicely into the very socially connected city."

During his adolescence Birley was mauled by a tiger at Howletts Zoo, the private zoo of family friend John Aspinall. The bones on one side of his face were crushed. He has endured years of cosmetic surgery but the accident left him with permanent scarring.