Argyll backs its first buy in nearly 20 years with £10m Chancery Lane refurb

Argyll is putting £10m behind 33 Chancery Lane, turning the six-floor Midtown building into 23,000 sq ft of premium flexible workspace. Due to complete in early 2027, the project marks the operator's first significant investment since Crosstree Real Estate Partners took the reins. Here's the full rundown...

33 Chancery Lane was Argyll's first acquisition in nearly 20 years, bought for £11m in November 2025 and the operator's opening move under Crosstree Real Estate Partners, which took over the previous May. Backed by its new owner, Argyll is now investing heavily in both sharpening and expanding its prime London portfolio, which currently runs to 25 premium serviced offices across the capital.

An 1874 building, once home to the London Mechanics' Institute and later Birkbeck College, it has kept its original French Gothic facade. The refurb leans into that rather than away from it, leaving the metalwork exposed and the finishes deliberately restrained.

Across the six floors sit 52 private offices, scaled for teams of two up to 10. Each is kitted out with Bene desks and Walter Knoll chairs. And the communal space is concentrated on the ground and lower-ground floors, featuring a customer lounge and kitchen, meeting rooms, phone booths and breakout areas. Elsewhere there's an outdoor terrace, bike storage, shower rooms, tea points on every floor and a multi-purpose quiet room.

For Emily Smith, Chief Executive of Argyll, it fits the brief precisely: "33 Chancery Lane represents exactly the kind of opportunity we are looking for as we grow Argyll: a distinctive building in a prime location where we can combine character, thoughtful design and personal service."

She continues: "We continue to see strong demand from businesses looking for more than simply a well-located office. They want beautifully designed spaces that reflect their brand, provide an inspiring working environment for their teams and offer the flexibility to evolve with them."

The address also sits neatly within Argyll's existing Midtown footprint, just around the corner from Central Court at 25 Southampton Buildings.

For Emma Turner, Interior Design Lead on the project, striking the balance was the point: "Our approach to 33 Chancery Lane has been to respect the character and heritage of this remarkable building, while creating a contemporary workplace that responds to how our customers want to work today."

She adds: "We have taken inspiration from its rich history to create an environment that feels quietly luxurious, considered and distinctly Argyll. Increasingly, businesses want their workplace to be an extension of their brand and values, and every detail at 33 Chancery Lane has been carefully considered to deliver that sense of quality and identity."

The refurb is due to complete in early 2027, with the first customers moving in from February.

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