Air Studio set up the fifth Beatle is for sale

Associated Independent Recording (AIR) Studios, set up by Beatles producer George Martin located in Lyndhurst Hall, a Grade II- listed church building in Hampstead, North West London, designed by Alfred Waterhouse who also designed the Natural History Museum, has been put for sale following the resolution of a dispute with neighbours.

AIR Studios, with exceptional acoustics, stunning architecture and natural light, is one of the largest recording rooms in the world, which has been known for rock and roll, now generates most of its revenue from symphonic work recorded for Hollywood movies including Dunkirk, Interstellar and Phantom Thread. It is only studio in London apart from Abbey Road that can handle a full orchestra of more than ninety musicians plus provision for large choirs. The sale will be handled by London Bridge Capital. Richard Boote, who bought the studio in 2006 said; “we want to hand the baton on like Sir George did”.

Paul McCartney still uses Air which also does mastering work and hires out writers’ room.

The sale also includes £3 million worth of recording equipment including a vintage mixing console designed by Rupert Neve.

Air which employs 35 staff, is profitable with £3m revenue with a £371k profit before tax last year up from £2.7m in 2016 and £2,2m in 2015.

The sale was triggered by the resolution of a dispute with a neighbour who had planned to excavate a basement to build a cinema room and a pool that would have come within inches of Lyndhurst Hall’s foundations and disrupted recordings.

Japanese company Pioneer and Sir George are still an investor in Air.