When I stayed on Necker, for a story, back in the 90s, we were helicoptered in from nearby Beef Island, swooping, M*A*S*H-style, low across the turquoise water and up to the helipad on the tiny island's peak. It was a very rock'n'roll arrival at a very rock-star–goes-native hideaway.
Just 74 acres of rock and scrub ringed in white sandy beaches in the British Virgin islands, Necker was bought in 1978, by the then 28-year-old Richard Branson, for just £180,000. He spent two years lavishing $10m on the creation of a tropical retreat, for the use of his family and the musical talent signed to Virgin Records. Building materials and furniture were flown in from various parts of the globe: hardwood from Brazil, antiques from Asia, and even a massive wooden roof from Bali, which covered the eight-bedroomed Great House. It was a vast structure: terrifying to think of it crashing down on Kate Winslet et al in Monday night's inferno.
Branson's bolthole was intended to feel exclusive and homey at the same time – with well-thumbed board games in the semi-alfresco living area, state-of-the-art entertainment systems, tennis courts, two pools – and, recently, even a submarine. There were quirky touches, too, such as three-walled loos open to the sea, and, you supposed, any enterprising paparazzi. The idea, I think, was to emphasise Necker's remoteness, but with all those long lenses around, I didn't think it made for a very relaxed start to the day.
There was a convivial, house-party atmosphere, with all manner of pampering on tap from the 60 staff. This was fine if you were a zillionaire (or one of Richard's personal friends, in which case the $54,500 per night might be waived) who could take over the whole house. For those who weren't, they introduced Celebration Weeks, when you could hire just a room (at $26,495, per couple, per week), which could have made for a slightly Big Brother-does-Robinson-Crusoe experience, as you were rather thrown together with other guests.
Apart from the run of De Niros, Beckhams, Spielbergs and even, famously, Princess Diana, these tended to be of the oil baron/shipping magnate/hedge-funder variety, plus well-heeled honeymooners. A few years ago, the last of six Bali houses were completed away from the Great House to give the latter more privacy, and it is in those, by all accounts, that the refugees from the fire are now sheltering. Given the attention to detail that went into its creation, it may be a while before the rest of the property is back in action.
The writer is travel editor of Elle magazine and elleuk.com
