From small beginnings to the “dormitory of the Royal Opera House”

In 1981 Chrissie Ganjou decided to help her father by letting his Bedford Court Mansions apartment—a one-bedroom in the heart of Bloomsbury—to a few friends working at the nearby Royal Opera House. As word spread, first through the Opera Houses then through Theatreland and the mansion blocks of the West End, Chrissie agreed to act as an agent, letting a small selection of high-quality flats; Central London Apartments Ltd was born.

A huge success, Central London Apartments (CLA) was at one stage letting 50 individual apartments to musicians, academics and tourists from across the globe. In fact, with so many established and rising stars staying with CLA, it became known as the dormitory of the Royal Opera House. Over the last four decades some of Chrissie’s clients have stayed over 50 times and treat CLA as their second home.

As the industry has changed, Chrissie has honed her individual apartment portfolio and built up an enviable ‘black book’ of contacts in London’s exclusive high-end accommodation. In 2019 she launched The Collection, the sister business of CLA that represents what Chrissie considers to be the best luxury accommodation options available across London. In doing so, she has opened up different areas of London for her clients and offered them a new booking experience, one that combines the privacy of an apartment rental with the luxury of a hotel stay.