News / Leigh Court
Entrepreneur hopes to open Bristol’s largest private members club
A serial entrepreneur envisages a new private members club as “a place of abundance, support, creativity and energy”.
Johnny Palmer has put in a final offer to purchase Leigh Court and create his latest multi-faceted project.
If all goes to plan, the historic mansion and estate in Abbots Leigh will become the largest private members club in the Bristol area with features including accommodation, a restaurant, yoga studio and nightclub space inside; and a swimming lake, woodland working huts and tree houses outside.
Palmer, who already owns part of the estate, says his vison for the club called Picaroon will be “transformational” for Bristol, “in particular the entrepreneurs, activists and artists of our region”.
“It is a members club where the greatest minds, best talent and most disruptive change makers will be able to meet, play and share ideas,” explained British-Australian Palmer, who also owns Warleigh Weir near Bath.
“It will not be economically exclusive or pretentious but instead support charities and disadvantaged people alongside the commercial activities.
“No one would be excluded as a member purely on financial grounds.
“For at least the first three years all money will be reinvested in the estate for community benefit.
“We need to blend all change makers from all backgrounds to make the positive change we need in Bristol.”
Johnny Palmer, who grew up on a farm in rural Tasmania, made international headlines when he converted what he claims used to be Pablo Escobar’s private jet into an Airbnb in Brislington – photo: Johnny Palmer
Palmer added: “I’m looking to do this to make Bristol a place where change makers can thrive as these are the only people that can and will fix the many problems we our city and country has right now.
“Since I moved to Bristol over 20 years ago I have seen a general decline in our culture, economy and institutions.
“Picaroon is my way of getting these back on track to make our region what many of us originally fell in love with.”
The Palladian mansion of Leigh Court has most recently been used as an event space and wedding venue as well as the headquarters of Business West – photo: Johnny Palmer
With much of Leigh Court – currently owned by Business West – built with wealth created from the slave trade, Palmer said “it would be great to turn this abhorrent past into something positive for the people of Bristol in the present day”.
He added: “I am concerned that if it is sold to someone else it could be developed in a way that creates more social divide and inequality into the present era.”
Main image: Johnny Palmer
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