THE Gilt Club, where members can swap or rent highly exclusive international properties from ski lodges to castles, chateaux and villas or exchange for assets such as private jet or yacht access, has just launched. In celebration, the invitation said we’d be whisked to Edinburgh, and it wasn’t fibbing – the jet we’re lounging in, courtesy of PrivateFly, a leading online booking platform for private charter, comes without the regular travel rigmarole (queues, long check-in times, overhead lockers, economy seats and “Chicken or Beef?”).
In fact, the trip to the historic Kinross House, one of the properties on the Gilt Club’s swish roster, is so fuss-free, it feels like we’ve been gently lifted from our spot in central London and placed down in Scotland an hour and three glasses of Champagne later – it’s like going for a leisurely brunch in one fabulous location, then walking out in another.
The historic Kinross House near Edinburgh in Scotland
We’re here for taste of the Gilt Club’s many spoils – and that includes a three-course lunch and wine pairing, tea in the drawing room and archery and caber tossing on the manicured lawns. From the neo- classical Palladian mansion’s large windows in the drawing room, we can see Loch Leven and its castle, a late-14th century tower where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned in 1567, alongside the bicycle path that loops around the fragrant, purslane-covered island. It’s quite the introduction, and a hint at the meticulously curated luxury and exclusivity available through the Gilt Club.
Founded by former club promoter and events production director, Sebastian Orr, the idea was born when, through his high-end villa-rental company, a client in Mallorca asked him for assistance on finding a holiday home in LA. It needed to meet a very particular brief, but Seb sourced the spot. And, as luck would have it, the property’s California-based owner was himself looking for a Balearic bolthole for the summer. And so an uber-luxe home exchange was initiated.
Glass was wined and dined at the opulent Kinross House
That was a couple of years ago. In that time, Seb set about building a highly selective international network of exceptional properties, personally meeting the owners to ensure a mutual fit, and turning the Gilt Club from a one-off event into a viable brand. The club made its first official home exchange in summer 2017, and has been expanding ever since. Now, Seb is focused on strengthening the Gilt Club’s European portfolio, while growing its collection into Asia and the Americas, too.
The large windows in the drawing room look out of Loch Leven
The premise is appealing: experiencing exclusive, privately owned, off-the-radar homes and villas that would just about never come onto the rental market. These are the types of hideaways that are unlikely to be found in conventional agency listings or on home-rental sites.
Those looking to stay in a cool Brooklyn brownstone or a stunner with sea views in Cape Town – those with a similarly luxurious property or asset – need only sign up to a yearly fixed membership fee for a service that is as versatile as it is exclusive. If Glass’s flying visit is anything to go by, the Gilt Club is the ultimate private members’ club.
Another property on The Gilt Club’s books is Chalet Jackson in Megève
by Natalie Egling
For more information on how to become a member, visit this link. The 13-seater Embraer Legacy 600 Glass travelled on is capable of flying 3250 nautical miles – including London to New York. It would typically cost £15,000 to charter for the day, London to Edinburgh. PrivateFly is a leading online booking platform for private jet charter, offering access to over 7,000 private aircraft based worldwide.
For more information, visit Private Fly
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