Cobham, London, is the home of the Chelsea Football Club’s training ground, and has earned the reputation of being the ‘Beverly Hills of Britain’. Luxury cars, high-end restaurants, gated mansions, and professional footballers are a common sight here. Over the past 19 years, since Chelsea moved its base to Cobham from Harlington, the village and surrounding areas, including Oxshott, have become a haven for footballers and other celebrities. Surrounded by multi-million pound mansions, the streets of these villages are some of the UK’s most desirable and expensive locations due to their proximity to central London, yet away from its hustle and bustle.
Residents have gotten used to seeing Premier League footballers frequent the high-end locales in the area. Restaurants and stores in the region have a loyal and famous clientele comprising of these players. This zone, with its luxury cars, private schools, high-end salons, Pilates studios, and yoga classes appears to attract celebrities like a magnet. As a result, Cobham has transformed into a hub that is home to stockbrokers, hedge fund managers and others within the elite community.
A talk of the town is the frequented Italian restaurant Grappelli, situated a few hundred yards away from The Ivy Cobham Garden. Grappelli is a hot spot for footballers and is known for its charismatic front-of-house manager, Eddy, who has befriended many of these players. His restaurant attracts a lot of footballers including Chelsea players and the old guards who still reside in the area.
The area has seen a significant transformation since Chelsea’s arrival. Reportedly, players were mandated to live within a two-and-a-half-mile radius of the Cobham training ground. This led to a sudden influx of wealth and fame in Cobham and Oxshott and as a result, these locations became the choice of residence for about 100 footballers, particularly from Chelsea. The area also attracted players from other clubs such as Fulham and Crystal Palace who preferred to stay away from the city’s centre.
Security and safety are among the top priorities when these players go house hunting. Considering recent instances of burglaries at footballers’ houses during their match or training schedules, it has become common for homes to have modern security measures in place. In addition to high-container gardens for five-a-side pitches, other features like a modern interior and exterior, and a safe environment comprise their house hunting checklist. Elite housing enclaves like the Crown Estate offer safe environments, managed roads and high-end houses making them an even more attractive location for these players.
Footballers are largely able to live normal and unaffected lives in Cobham, Oxshott, and the wider Surrey area, much like celebrities in Beverly Hills. The local residents of these areas are accustomed to their celebrity neighbours and daily encounters with them. Immune to their fame, they go about their lives as normal, offering a sense of normalcy and privacy to these football stars. Even though safety and security are paramount, these celebrities just want to live normal and unaffected lives with the best security systems in their houses. Being relatively away from the city’s limelight, they can enjoy the luxuries and solitude that these areas offer.
