Mayfair mystery as billionaire Tej Kohli has his Annabel’s membership cancelled: Devastated philanthropist instructs ‘battery of lawyers’ to fight his case after dazzling London club slams its doors shut on him

Mayfair mystery as billionaire Tej Kohli has his Annabel's membership cancelled: Devastated philanthropist instructs 'battery of lawyers' to fight his case after dazzling London club slams its doors shut on him

As a lifelong connoisseur of the high life, I must confess that the news of Tej Kohli’s expulsion from Annabel’s has left me rather flabbergasted. This man, a billionaire with a penchant for Rolls-Royces and tennis courts, a member of the hallowed 5 Hertford Street, seemed to have it all – or so I thought.


He has pretty well everything your average billionaire might wish for. There is, for example, a place in Marbella and a house in Henley equipped with not one but two tennis courts – part, it’s said, of a ‘vast array of exceptional properties dotted across the world’ – plus a fleet of trophy cars, including several Rollses, a Ferrari and a Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse, not to mention a devoted wife, son and daughter, and a splendid crown of hair which remains lustrously brown even though he’s just turned 66.

As an enthusiastic admirer, I’ve always taken great pride in my association with two legendary hotspots – 5 Hertford Street and Annabel’s. Ever since they graced Mayfair 12 years ago under the visionary Robin Birley, and since 1963 when Mark Birley first breathed life into them, these iconic establishments have held a special place in my heart. Now, under the dynamic leadership of Richard Caring, they continue to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of restaurants and urban elegance.

However, I can reveal an unexpected and potentially groundbreaking turn of events: Annabel’s has closed its doors to Kohli, who amassed his initial fortune in the California real estate market during the 1980s. A source from Mayfair confides that Tej’s membership has been revoked, leaving everyone astonished.

Mayfair mystery as billionaire Tej Kohli has his Annabel's membership cancelled: Devastated philanthropist instructs 'battery of lawyers' to fight his case after dazzling London club slams its doors shut on him

Mayfair mystery as billionaire Tej Kohli has his Annabel's membership cancelled: Devastated philanthropist instructs 'battery of lawyers' to fight his case after dazzling London club slams its doors shut on him

In simpler terms, Annabel won’t talk about the accusations made against Kohli regarding his misconduct. However, it seems he strongly believes he has been unfairly wronged. I’ve been informed that he’s hired several lawyers to defend him vigorously.

The club, known as Birley’s Lady Annabel, was once graced by Princess Diana during Sarah, Duchess of York’s hen night. Queen Elizabeth made a visit to celebrate the 70th birthday of her friend, the Countess of Airlie, who sadly passed away last weekend.

Last week, Taylor Swift, the popular American pop artist, threw a gratitude party for her 200-member Eras Tour team by renting out the entire venue.

Mayfair mystery as billionaire Tej Kohli has his Annabel's membership cancelled: Devastated philanthropist instructs 'battery of lawyers' to fight his case after dazzling London club slams its doors shut on him

As a die-hard fan, I’ve been trying to get in touch with Virat Kohli himself to verify if his membership has indeed been revoked, but it seems like my calls to the Kohli Foundation’s offices in Mayfair and Delhi have gone unanswered. Similarly, emails sent to the same address haven’t received a response either. Strangely, a representative from Annabel’s declined to comment on the matter when I reached out for clarification. Quite peculiar, isn’t it?

Previously, Kohli has faced some challenges, as was stated in an article from a free London newspaper last year. The piece described how his initial triumphs eventually resulted in a fall from grace, requiring him to reconstruct both himself and his public persona, without providing additional specifics.

In the year 2019, I had the privilege of partaking in an uncommon conversation at Hertford Street, a place I described as the epitome of global excellence. However, I couldn’t help but hint at the possibility that another esteemed venue, Annabel’s, might also lay claim to this title. I concluded by acknowledging that both institutions are truly world-class establishments.

Just because Annabel’s no longer includes Kohli doesn’t necessarily imply that he has lost his status as a ‘world-class’ player. It could simply suggest a change in the criteria or selection process at Annabel’s, not a decline in Kohli’s skills.

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2024-08-24 00:21

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