Bluebird Garage
Encyclopedia
Bluebird Garage, at 330-350 King's Road, Chelsea, London
, is a Grade II listed building that is now a noted Conran
restaurant and retail space, but which had its origins as a noted Art Deco
garage complex built for the Bluebird Motor Company, which had connections with Sir Malcolm Campbell
.
The land speed record
breaker Malcolm Campbell
was connected with the Bluebird garage, initially holding the franchise for Itala and Ballot
cars. He raced both of these marques, using this hobby as a form of advertising. In 1925 he also became the agent for the newly-founded Chrysler
company. As a racing driver he was less than impressed with Chrysler and imposed upon his long-suffering mechanic Leo Villa
to wring just enough speed out of it to put up an impressive show at Brooklands
. One of Campbell's maxims was, "Never trade with your own money. Always use that of others", which he demonstrated when the Bluebird garage folded in 1927. The shareholders (of whom Campbell wasn't one) lost their whole investment. He repeated this with another garage at St. James's
in the 1930s, again losing none of his own money whilst the backers lost £25,000. His own racing garage at Brooklands, the 'Campbell Shed' paid for from his own pocket, was more successful.
In later years the building was used as an ambulance station.
's Conran Group into the 'Bluebird Gastrodrome', including a restaurant, bar, café and private dining rooms. The garage area was occupied by the Sainsbury's supermarket chain as an experimental 'concept' shop. Sainsbury's withdrew from the space which made way for 'the shop at bluebird', a high-end clothes, furniture and book shop.
Chelsea, London
Chelsea is an area of West London, England, bounded to the south by the River Thames, where its frontage runs from Chelsea Bridge along the Chelsea Embankment, Cheyne Walk, Lots Road and Chelsea Harbour. Its eastern boundary was once defined by the River Westbourne, which is now in a pipe above...
, is a Grade II listed building that is now a noted Conran
Terence Conran
Sir Terence Orby Conran, FCSD, is an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.-Early life and education:Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, the son of Christina Mabel and South African-born Gerard Rupert Conran, a businessman who owned a rubber importation company in East...
restaurant and retail space, but which had its origins as a noted Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
garage complex built for the Bluebird Motor Company, which had connections with Sir Malcolm Campbell
Malcolm Campbell
Sir Malcolm Campbell was an English racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times during the 1920s and 1930s using vehicles called Blue Bird...
.
Early history
The garage was built for the Bluebird Motor Company in 1923, designed to the very latest style by the architect Robert Sharp. At the time of its completion the garages were claimed to be the largest in Europe. At 50000 sq ft (4,645.2 m²), there was room for 300 cars in the main garage, a further 7000 sq ft (650.3 m²) was given over to workshops. On either side of the garage two further buildings contained lounges and writing rooms. The lounges were segregated for ladies, owners and chauffeurs.The land speed record
Land speed record
The land speed record is the highest speed achieved by a wheeled vehicle on land. There is no single body for validation and regulation; in practice the Category C flying start regulations are used, officiated by regional or national organizations under the auspices of the Fédération...
breaker Malcolm Campbell
Malcolm Campbell
Sir Malcolm Campbell was an English racing motorist and motoring journalist. He gained the world speed record on land and on water at various times during the 1920s and 1930s using vehicles called Blue Bird...
was connected with the Bluebird garage, initially holding the franchise for Itala and Ballot
Ballot (automobile)
Ballot was a French automobile manufacturer who made cars between 1921 and 1932.The Ballot brothers, Edouard and Maurice, founded their company in 1905. Before World War I they manufactured automobile and marine engines. The company was re-founded as Etablissements Ballot SA in 1910.Edouard...
cars. He raced both of these marques, using this hobby as a form of advertising. In 1925 he also became the agent for the newly-founded Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
company. As a racing driver he was less than impressed with Chrysler and imposed upon his long-suffering mechanic Leo Villa
Leo Villa
Period 3D photographs taken by Leo Villa on a Stereo Realist camera given to him by Donald Campbell.- References :...
to wring just enough speed out of it to put up an impressive show at Brooklands
Brooklands
Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England. It opened in 1907, and was the world's first purpose-built motorsport venue, as well as one of Britain's first airfields...
. One of Campbell's maxims was, "Never trade with your own money. Always use that of others", which he demonstrated when the Bluebird garage folded in 1927. The shareholders (of whom Campbell wasn't one) lost their whole investment. He repeated this with another garage at St. James's
St. James's
St James's is an area of central London in the City of Westminster. It is bounded to the north by Piccadilly, to the west by Green Park, to the south by The Mall and St. James's Park and to the east by The Haymarket.-History:...
in the 1930s, again losing none of his own money whilst the backers lost £25,000. His own racing garage at Brooklands, the 'Campbell Shed' paid for from his own pocket, was more successful.
In later years the building was used as an ambulance station.
Recent history
In 1997 the building was converted by Sir Terence ConranTerence Conran
Sir Terence Orby Conran, FCSD, is an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.-Early life and education:Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, the son of Christina Mabel and South African-born Gerard Rupert Conran, a businessman who owned a rubber importation company in East...
's Conran Group into the 'Bluebird Gastrodrome', including a restaurant, bar, café and private dining rooms. The garage area was occupied by the Sainsbury's supermarket chain as an experimental 'concept' shop. Sainsbury's withdrew from the space which made way for 'the shop at bluebird', a high-end clothes, furniture and book shop.