The north of England is rich in cultural and history and within recent years, it has started to become a hub for Middle Eastern investors. Montagu Gulf are a luxury concierge service, facilitating a unique experience to explore and find opportunities to invest in or experience the north of England. From real estate interests to luxury equestrian experiences, Montagu Gulf have opened the way for middle eastern clients to access the very best of the North of England.
It has been no secret that many middle eastern investors have historically focused on London and the South of England, however, since the purchase of Manchester City football club by H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, many investors from the GCC region have been expanding their interests into the North.
Founders, James Anderson and Russell Howes both have understanding and experience of the culture and expectations of the middle eastern clients. It is because of this that Montagu Gulf are able to provide a multi-faceted seamless service to their VIP clients. Therefore, if you’re looking for a 360° Service, tailored to meet your standards then this company could be a great partner for you.
We took a moment to discuss investment and lifestyle opportunities in the north of England with the founding partners of Montagu Gulf, James Anderson and Russell Howes:
Why should our readers consider investing in the north of England in comparison to London or somewhere else in the UK?
The north of England is undergoing great redevelopment and is the main part of the government’s decentralisation for key activities outside of London. We hear the phrase “Northern Powerhouse” a lot within the UK and we all understand the idea of spreading the wealth across our compact country. As we all know, it’s the early bird that gets the worm and those outside of the UK don’t fully understand how much the northern development plans will change economies and grow investments in the region in the very near future.
Which cities or areas within the north of England do your middle eastern clients express the most interest in? Why are those areas of interest?
Newcastle and Manchester have historically been the best-known cities, due to the obvious football connections, but Leeds and Liverpool are growing in popularity too. Interests vary from business investments, to residential and private land purchases, shopping experiences and of course to take advantage of some of our world class natural environments that host leading horse trainers, falcon breeders and shooting facilities.
The heritage and history of the north of England is vast, do you reveal these elements of British culture to your clients? If yes, how so?
Our heritage and history is one of our main selling points, the north hosts the largest density of natural parklands in the UK and within those, we have some of England’s most picturesque villages, towns and countryside. You’ll see some of the largest densities of historic castles and places that are home to world leading innovations. Outside of business and commerce, our historic region always leaves a lasting impression on people and we have seen some gulf nationals make significant purchases of estate and land in the north to make it more of a frequent destination for them. We capture the best the region has to offer and showcase this to our GCC clients as part of a seamless, premium experience.
Which sectors do your clients invest in and which, in your opinion, are the most lucrative opportunities for potential clients?
Out of town commercial property is a common investment as well as farms and private estates that can be found at very favourable prices at the minute. Our clients like to have equestrian and falconry facilities, and this is not always easy to find on rental properties, so they purchase their own and develop it to suit their needs. Our clients also invest in training facilities through JVs with animal breeders and trainers to make world class establishments to spawn pedigree animals. With a now growing focus on investment in the premier league in the north, we are seeing more and more inquiries relating to second home purchase and lifestyle management when travelling.
What other services do you offer, other than commercial or personal investments in the North of England?
Our team deal with travel planning, close protection security, automotive logistics, falconry, equestrian and shooting activities as well as white label services for brands and social event organisation. We take our experience from working in the Middle East to make sure all of our services are tailored correctly to our gulf clientele.
Would you say there are any similarities between the affluent culture in the north of England and the luxurious culture of many of our readers in the middle east?
In the north of England we have a large amount of hidden gems which we believe provide a match for the luxurious offerings from the middle east. These being a large selection of Michelin starred restaurants, 5 star luxury boutique hotels, shopping locations featuring the world’s top luxury brands and of course a level of outdoor sporting experiences which cannot be found anywhere else. Including; globally known equestrian facilities and trainers, falconry breeders and farms, as well as Olympic standard shooting. The north delivers an authentic, genuine experience which we have wrapped in luxury to match our client’s needs.
Can you explain the experience that one of your clients in the middle east could expect to receive when working with you?
We recently had a group of UHNWI’s from KSA visit us for a shooting week and stay in Northumberland. We had organised a stay in a private historical castle which had been customised with décor and facilities as required. A private sporting experience and tuition was arranged through our extension network of partners and ambassadors, including world champion equestrian and falconry on the premises, within the grounds of the property. We had arranged a day out shopping in Leeds and an evening’s dinner at one of the best Michelin starred restaurants in the Lake District which was hosted through one of the venues private table settings. The experience was thoroughly successful and this particular family are now regulars and enjoy the secluded, private nature of the north and genuine friendly and warm experience on offer. We have the ability to cater for all needs and with our experience in the GCC we understand the requirements of our guests.
