Who is John Taylor, this English gardener who planted the seed of luxury in Cannes 160 years ago?

Leader in local hyperluxury, the John Taylor network of real estate agencies celebrated its 160th anniversary at the Carlton. A look back at a crazy success story, born in Cannes, from the vision of an… English gardener.

And the little seed, planted 160 years ago, turned into a baobab... Friday at the Carlton, nearly 350 employees, representing 43 agencies and around ten countries, met for the annual convention of John Taylor real estate agencies , leader of the local hyperluxury market.

If, generally, it is Monaco which hosts the big rally, this time, Cannes was favored. On purpose. “In this anniversary year, we are going back to the roots, the company having been founded here,” explains Nicolas Orlowski, CEO of John Taylor and the Artcurial group, which the company is owned. Back to the roots of a crazy success story.

And the gardener became a real estate agent…

The year is 1854: a fishing village, Cannes has been occupied by the British aristocracy since the arrival, 20 years earlier, of Lord Henry Brougham. That year, the future City of Festivals saw the arrival of John Taylor, a 20-year-old English gardener.

Asked by Sir Thomas Woolfield, a rich merchant, to enhance his estate, the young man from Suffolk demonstrated his talents. Quickly, his creations were emulated by high society families, who sought his services. “He knew Cannes and its surroundings perfectly,” says Nicolas Orlowski. “Clients ended up asking him to find the most beautiful homes, the most beautiful plots of land.”

The young man has intuition and a sense of relationships. In 1864, John Taylor was 30 years old and opened the first real estate agency in Cannes. In the second part of the 19th century, the European aristocracy, particularly Russian and British, became more and more diligent during the summer months. The list of John Taylor's (rich) clients is growing quickly. He not only offers them dream properties, but also luxury concierge services.

Linked to the royal family and ennobled in 1884

In 1886, his son Walter, 23, became his partner. Main mission: management of properties and personnel matters. Particularity which continues: "Property management is part of our missions, in the same way as transactions and rentals, confirms Nicolas Orlowski. To this end, we have nearly 300 gardeners in the South; we also manage the house service , security, etc. Having become a leading figure in the British community on the Riviera, John Taylor established strong ties with the royal family (in 1930, his grandson, Jack, welcomed Princes Edward and John in Cannes, with the greatest discretion) .

From 1884, he served as vice-consul to His Majesty; from now on it will be Sir John Taylor. On October 20, 1909, his 75th birthday, he was even made a member of the Royal Order of Queen Victoria. If the founder – who lost his son, Walter, in 1918 – died on April 21, 1922 in Cannes (he is buried at the Grand Jas), the family saga is far from over. His grandson, Jack, then his great-granddaughter, Jacqueline Montagu, perpetuated and enhanced the legacy until the 1990s by the Monegasque businessman, Michel Pastor.

De Gaulle, Chaplin, "BB" and the others

A family story which echoes those of many clients, "which we follow from generation to generation. This is also the case with certain properties: the villa Leopolda, in Villefranche [which had almost been sold in 2008 for 390 Me], we sold it 4 or 5 times over time."

Certain residences, made available during the two great wars, will also go down in History, such as the villa "Sous le Vent" at Cap d'Antibes, host to American generals Patton and Eisenhower or, in 1946, to General de Gaulle.

After the conflicts, comes the golden age. John Taylor expands, opens a second agency in Nice; then, in 1961, in the frenzy of Saint-Tropez.

The 70's arrive and a parade of stars: Charlie Chaplin, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, Brigitte Bardot, Johnny Hallyday, Charles Aznavour... Celebrities flock to the agencies and some become loyal clients, such as Jane and Henry Fonda or Gregory Peck.

The empire expanded and, at the turn of the 21st century, John Taylor went international: in 2007, agencies opened in Milan, Paris, Geneva, Megève, Gstaad, Moscow and Doha. Then it will be the Balearic Islands, Portugal, Tuscany…

Still attached to Cannes roots

The acquisition, in 2017, by the Artcurial group, founded fifteen years previously by Nicolas Orlowski, further increased the figures: an annual growth of 21% in the volume of activity, allowing John Taylor to strengthen its position as leader in hyperluxury (transactions over €10 million) in the South and Monaco, with 35 to 40% market share.

In the summer of 2023, the company also sold the most expensive apartment in Paris, on the Champ-de-Mars: €35 for 669 sqm. “We are developing in the capital [two new spaces in 2024], where we were, until now, poorly established.”

There is no question, however, of denying Cannes roots: the headquarters remains there, rue d’Antibes; and will soon be expanded. Same thing for the agency on rue Amouretti.

Currently under construction, in December it will reach a surface area of 300m2, to become the largest real estate agency in Cannes.

John Taylor's garden is surprisingly well maintained...

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