The Savoy recently held a furniture auction while it undergoes a £45 million refurbishment, and one woman has shared the incredible bargains she got from the iconic luxury London hotel
The Savoy is a world-renowned five-star luxury hotel situated on the Strand in central London. Opened on August 6, 1889 by theatre impresario Richard D’Oyly Carte, it is widely regarded as Britain’s first luxury hotel.
With nightly rates at The Savoy typically starting anywhere between £550 and £760 for a standard room, it’s hardly a budget option – and the same can be said for its furnishings. So when the hotel recently held an auction ahead of a £45 million refurbishment, one woman has revealed she leapt at the opportunity to snap up a few pieces for herself. Maisie Isabella took to her Instagram page to bring her 8,000+ followers along for the ride as she headed off to collect the items she had successfully bid on during the auction.
The clip opened with her saying: “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?”
Maisie Isabella revealed she acquired two paintings, while her mother picked up 11 paintings and four console tables.
“I nearly bought a £50,000 wardrobe for £80 but I didn’t because the logistics of getting it in my house were just slim to none,” said Maisie Isabella. However, she later admitted to having second thoughts once she realised the furniture was flat-pack.
Maisie Elizabeth also mentioned there was a lamp she “really wanted that was worth £1,500” that someone else snapped up for just £90.
Beyond lamps, tables and wardrobes, she revealed an extensive array of items were up for grabs, including mirrors, sideboards, large vases, pots and cabinets, with some fetching a remarkably “crazy” price.
“Some lamps sold for over £600 but my mum got the console tables for £50 each,” she said. “They’re by an Italian designer and they’re lowkey really, really expensive.”
Maisie Isabella revealed she bought a Japanese-style painting for £15.
She did, however, caution those planning to attend similar auctions ‘not to be fooled’, warning that a 44% tax and a lift-out fee is applicable on every item purchased.
The video proved a massive hit with viewers as it went viral and accumulated more than 9,000 likes.
One person exclaimed: “How did I not know about this?!”
While another added: “This is so cool.”
A third chimed in: “I’m sending it this to all my friends with a house in London.”
A fellow auction-goer also weighed in with their own experience, writing: “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 Savoy’s comprehensive renovation programme commenced in August 2024 and has been carefully planned to unfold in phases through to 2027, allowing the hotel to continue operating at full capacity with limited inconvenience to visitors.
The enhancement carefully preserves the hotel’s iconic Grade II-listed Edwardian and Art Deco heritage while incorporating contemporary, technology-driven luxury features including built-in wireless bedside charging points and bespoke colour-adjustable vanity mirrors.
