Riverside film Location, that’s been home to Jeffrey Archer, John Barry & Bernie Ecclestone

Peninsula Heights, 93 Albert Embankment, London. SE1 7TY

Peninsula Heights was formerly an office building built in the 1960s called Alembic House which was built for the United Nations Association.

It was converted to luxury apartments in 1996 and very quickly became infamous thanks to the parties of resident, Jeffrey Archer.

History

Standing on the site of a former coal wharf is one of London’s most exclusive and famous Thameside addresses, Peninsula Heights is an iconic glass and white panelled fifteen storey apartment building, built in 1962-64 by Oscar Garry & Partners Architects and originally known as Alembic House. It originally providing offices for the United Nations but in 1995-96 was Developed by Regalia Into residential use. Architect Guy Johnson of T.P. Bennett Architects oversaw the conversion to provide luxury full-floor residences and renamed the building, Peninsula Heights.

Peninsula Heights sits at the Vauxhall Bridge end of Albert Embankment. This embankment was built in the late 1800s and devised by engineer Joseph Bazalgette, to increase the flow of the Thames, improve sewage and drain the marshes to prevent the flooding of low-lying areas of Vauxhall and Kennington which occurred whenever there was an exceptionally high tide on the Thames

At over 49 metres (165 ft) in height, the building and its apartments appear to float over the River Thames and the windows and balconies offer some of the finest views of the Thames and Houses of Parliament (see picture below)

This allows the building to have outstanding unobstructed views of the river. Although there are other residential buildings along Albert Embankment, Peninsula Heights is the only one directly on the River, all the others are set back off the road, so the views from the windows and balconies are exceptional and unrivalled.

Inside Jeffrey’s Penthouse

For a good look around Jeffrey’s Penthouse visit House & Gardens Archive to see their feature from 1995

The Water Tower: A Grand Design(Opens in a new browser tab)

Famous Residents

Other than Archer, other owners of the two-floor penthouse have included John Barry the James Bond composer, and Bernie Ecclestone the Formula one billionaire.

Famous residents have included novelist and MP Lord Archer, James Bond soundtrack genius John Barry, Hollywood actress Joan Collins and F1 billionaire Bernie Ecclestone.

Other notable residents have Greg Hutchings disgraced former Chairman of Tomkin Conglomerates, singer Sir Tommy Steele and Club owner Peter Stringfellow

Watch a Clip from ‘Celebrity Come Dine with Me‘ when Peter Stringfellow’s sink collapses as cooks in his flat.

SCANDAL: Perjudy, excess and greed

In recent times, two of its more famous residents have been linked together and mired in Scandal.

Jeffrey Archer

On 19 July 2001, Lord Archer was found guilty of perjury and perverting the course of justice at the 1987 trial. He was sentenced to four years imprisonment by Mr Justice Potts.

The Guardian: The Rise and Fall of Jeffrey Archer 19 Jul 2001

Greg Hutchings

Whilst his immediate downstairs neighbour and friend, Greg Hutchings, had to resign as chief executive of the Tomkins group, amid revelations that he had run his public company as if it were his private property. Including using the flat at Peninsula Heights (brought by the Company) to further his friend Archer’s campaign to be London mayor. As treasurer of Lord Archer’s campaign and chair of the mayoral candidate’s Greater London Forum thinktank, Hutchings became embroiled in controversy as Archer and his supporters sought to insist that the businessman’s financial contributions were “pre-campaign”, not “campaign”, donations.

The Guardian: The Bigger they Come…… Friday 13 October 2000

A unique Film Location

Given its location and luxury, Peninsula Heights has appeared in numerous movies including The Naked Runner, Joanna, The Italian Job, A Touch of Class, Theatre of Blood and James Bond’s The World Is Not Enough and Spectre.

Melody 1971 Film(Opens in a new browser tab)