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We went to downtown Dalston in the East End of London
to have a gawp at The Roost, a stunning locations
house which has been used as the set for music videos,
TV ads and fashion shoots. Glam or what? |
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Les
Robertson and Alex McCullin have been mates for
years, since they were models back in the 80s. After
a few years booking and scouting models they realised
their numerous contacts in fashion world offered
great potential for a business. As they were both
into décor, design and DIY, it made perfect sense
to do a house up, with a view to hiring it out for
shoots.
In order to raise the capital for the venture, they
went and did 16 weeks hard labour on an oil rig
off Aberdeen. 'We didn't see land, women or drink
for the whole time – it was pretty rough,'
says Les.
Their six weeks of voluntary isolation paid off.
The two were able to buy an old rambling pub in
Dalston, an area of Hackney, East London. It was
in serious need of work but doing almost all the
work themselves, they gradually transformed it and
now, four years later, 85 per cent of the renovation
is complete.
Their client list is name-drop city – Oasis
shot their last video in the gaff; Naomi Campbell
has done press there, as has Davina McCall, Graham
Norton and the Truesteppers. Oh and maybe the best
one – remember the weird sponsorship stuff
by Southern Comfort at the start of Big Brother
– yes, that was their kitchen. Cool eh?
The house is a pretty impressive building from the
outside, huge and imposing with the cockerel on
the door giving it its name. Take a peek at The
Roost's website.
 The
guys let the whole house out and people can shoot
in any of the many huge rooms, using any props they
want, so it's a good deal. Fees can range from £375
to £4,000, depending on the duration of the shoot
and how rich the client is!
 The
main reception room as you go in is full of dummies
that the guys bought as a job-lot from a junk shop.
They've now got a spin-off business, hiring props
out to companies, as well as offering them as part
of the deal to those who hire the house.
 Both
Les and Alex live in the house and each has an amazing
bedroom with its own sitting room. Les has done
his out 70s-style with a retro red leather sofa
from an auction, while the carpet, coffee table
and sideboard all came from various furniture fairs.
 The
amazing bathroom features a free-standing cast-iron
bath and original sink that Les and Alex found at
an architectural salvage merchant. The cabinet was
bought at an auction and restored to its original
condition.
This cool sign was another furniture fair find.
 Les
and Alex have started collecting 'thrift shop art',
ie. tacky pics like this that your granny probably
still has from the 70s. A good set can fetch a high
price as the stuff has become quite sought-after.
 People
who hire the house are allowed to decorate rooms
any colour they like – as long as they put
it back the way it was when they've finished. Or
else.
The lads' next project? 'We've just put an offer
in on a huge Georgian house, also in Hackney –
this one's in great condition but its asking price
is about four and a half times the price of our
first one,' says Alex. 'The new one's going to be
called The Perch, carrying on the birdie theme.'
The entrepreneurial twosome
have also started another spin-off retro and period
furniture business. To see some of their great merchandise,
click here
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