UK's prince of plumbing Charlie Mullins slashes asking price of Essex mansion

Pimlico Plumbers founder looks for quick sale after finalising divorce from second wife

Charlie Mullins spends hundreds of thousands of pounds a year on cars and holidays, including jetting off to Dubai and Marbella several times a year.

The 68-year-old divorcee has 250 company vans on the road, all branded with his plumbing-themed number plates.

Charlie Mullins started a plumbing apprenticeship at 15 and is now worth about £70 million (Dh350 million).

Charlie Mullins in his Morris Minor van outside Buckingham Palace in the UK.

The eccentric businessman, known for his bleach blonde hair and blinding white smile, has crossed the pond to Dubai to turn a pipe dream into reality.

He was awarded an OBE in the New Year's honours list in 2014.

He is staying in a Dh4,000-a-night, ocean-facing suite in one of Dubai’s most exclusive hotels.

The plumbing boss at the Pimlico Plumbing headquarters in central London.

Standing proud in front of his Bentley fitted with a personal number plate.

British millionaire plumber, Charlie Mullins, is starting a new business venture in Dubai. Photos by Antonie Robertson / The National

His years spent getting elbow deep in the plumbing trade paid off when he was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s honours list.

Britain’s richest plumber Charlie Mullins, who is currently in Dubai, has slashed the asking price of his Essex mansion in the UK after divorcing his second wife.

The six-bedroom home in Hutton Mount, Brentwood, was listed for £4.75 million ($6.5m) just over a month ago, but the home of the Pimlico Plumbers boss is now on the market for £4.4m.

The sale comes after his divorce from his wife of four years – Julie, 48 – was finalised in December.

The luxury property, which features marble floors, a home cinema and gym, was built in 2010.

Mr Mullins, 68, who is worth an estimated £70m, bought the property in January 2019 for £3.5 million.

A spokesman for Mr Mullins said the cut in the asking price was not a “direct result of the divorce”.

The plumber has been staying in one of Dubai's most exclusive hotels during the pandemic, paying Dh4,000 a night.

He told The National last week that he was planning on expanding his plumbing business to the UAE.

Despite the pandemic forcing many companies to close and people to cut down on spending, business at Pimlico Plumbers is up 15 per cent over the past year. The plumbers charge a £105 per hour call-out rate, rising to £200 for unsociable-hour emergencies.

Mr Mullins has also been eyeing up the idea of setting up an outlet in Dubai and said now was as good a time as any.

“I am playing it smart and taking my time because of the pandemic, but I’m very serious about this,” he said.

“Dubai is great, but some of the plumbing workmanship I’ve seen in buildings is a bit shoddy.

“I know I could fill that gap for people willing to spend a bit more for a quality outcome.

“I will bring British trained and qualified plumbers out here, but I won’t charge London prices, it will be less.

“If I’m being very honest, I wish I tapped into the Dubai market 15 years ago. I didn’t and I’m gutted.”

With a large British expat community in Dubai that is “familiar with his name”, Mr Mullins thinks he could establish a “great customer base really quickly”.

He said he will be up and running before the end of the year, if all goes according to plan.

“I heard they’re bringing the famous black taxis of London out here soon," Mr Mullins said. "Now if that’s not the perfect platform to advertise the business, I don’t know what is.”