Take That Star Jason Orange’s Former Home Hits The Market

Want a home that shines with star power? This penthouse on The Strand not only boasts a storied past as one of the prime restaurants in the West End, but also comes with celebrity connections to the band Take That. Don’t worry though, former owner Jason Orange doesn’t want Gatti House back for good.

Inside Jason Orange’s Historic West End Penthouse

The History Of Gatti House

Built in 1886 by architect Spencer Chadwick, Gatti House first served not as a home but as a restaurant – more specifically The Adelphi Theatre Restaurant at the heart of the West End. The creation of two Italian-Swiss brothers Agostino and Stefano Gatti, the flamboyant family also owned the accompanying Adelphi Theatre as well as the Vaudeville. Opening the Adelphi restaurant in 1887, it quickly became one of the West End’s most fashionable haunts, its private dining rooms even drawing in figures such as Oscar Wilde and Noël Coward. Continuing their family’s gastronomic and cultural legacy, Agostino’s eldest son, John Gatti, oversaw the main dining room while his cousin Gaspare ‘Luigi’ Gatti acted as manager and head chef of the private dining suite. 

Among the regular patrons of the restaurant was J Bruce Ismay, the Chairman of the White Star Line. Taken by the restaurant and its chef, he awarded the Gattis a role operating the à la carte restaurants aboard his new ocean liners, the RMS Olympic and the RMS Titanic. On 10 April 1912, Gaspare Gatti and 35 of his staff, many of them former employees of the Adelphi Theatre Restaurant, boarded Titanic’s maiden voyage to oversee the new restaurant. When the ship sank five days later, all of the staff were taken by the sea. 

Inside Gatti House Today

With the surviving Gatti family selling the restaurant in 1955, it was eventually transformed into a residential building in 2010. Facing significant restoration, the works returned the property to its former grandeur, preserving ornate plasterwork, decorative joinery and its elegant proportions. Now the site of four private homes, the split-level penthouse resides on the lower level with two bedroom suites, a private balcony, and an open-plan living space. Beyond its tragic links to the Titanic, the property’s second claim to fame lies in its former owner, the Take That star Jason Orange. Believed to have bought the apartment when the building was first converted in 2015, he lived in the property for three years.

Chris Sellwood, senior director at Sotheby’s International Realty UK, says: ‘What makes this penthouse so special is the way it builds on that legacy. The conversion was carried out with extraordinary sensitivity, preserving character while creating homes that meet every modern expectation. The rustic beams, sweeping spaces and private balconies give a sense of drama and romance, while the interiors balance comfort and flair in a way that feels completely at home in Covent Garden.’

Where Does Jason Orange Live Now?

Born in Manchester, the star started his career in the breakdance crew Street Machine before joining Take That in 1990. During the band’s hiatus in 1996, he took on a series of acting roles, including the crime drama Killer Net and the London stage production Gob. Reuniting with the band in 2005, sans Robbie Williams, he continued with the group until 2014 when he sent shockwaves around the world with his unexpected exit from the group. Today, seldom seen except for a few glimpses in Manchester and London, the singer has reportedly joined the hordes of celebrities who have retreated to the Cotswolds where he lives a quiet and private existence. 

Gatti House is situated on The Strand between Trafalgar Square and Covent Garden Piazza, and is on the market for £2.85m. Find out more at sothebysrealty.co.uk