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About Blick Rothenberg

A short history of Blick Rothenberg, and some historical background to our lovely building and its neighbourhood.

The history of our firm

Based in Central London, Blick Rothenberg is a leading UK firm of Chartered Accountants.

Helmut Rothenberg OBE 1915-2003, established the practice in 1945. He opened his office in Copthall House, Copthall Avenue, an auspicious address which has since been rebuilt to house the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales! The firm has been in its present premises in York Gate, at the entrance of Regent's Park since 1985.

We are large enough to have expertise in all the major financial disciplines, but small enough to communicate effectively within the firm on client affairs. The firm's activities fall into three main areas: business advice and support services to owner-managed and growing businesses; a strong focus on inward investment, helping companies establish and maintain operations in the UK; and tax and investment advice to private clients.

Our client base includes businesses from every industry sector, as well as professional firms and not-for-profit organisations. The breadth of our clientele means that we have comprehensive practical experience of commercial issues ranging from UK tax and audit, to acquisitions, disposals of businesses, and international taxation. We also provide all-round financial advice to our personal clients, including many who are based overseas.

BRAL Ltd, a Business Support Services Company within the Blick Rothenberg group, was set up specifically to cater for the needs of companies taking their first steps in the UK. BRAL offers its clients assistance with market entry and research, company formation, executive recruitment and outsourced financial administration, management accounting and payroll services.

Blick Rothenberg is an independent member of BKR International, an association of independent accounting and business advisory firms. BKR International represents the combined expertise of more than 125 member firms with 300 offices in over 60 countries around the world.

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The history of our building: 12 York Gate

The Crown estate of Regent's Park, where our office is based, is part of the most refined town-planning scheme ever completed in London. Its conception was the result of an early 19th century competition for the best design of a new housing estate to increase Crown revenue.

John Nash (1752-1835) won the commission with his impressive ideas: lining the park's 500 acres with terraces designed to appear as if they were huge palaces. The scheme was unlike anything else in London at the time - as well as 56 'noblemen's' villas it even included attractions such as the Zoological and Botanical Gardens to amuse its residents - all in a semi-rural setting close to the centre of London.

Nash's style was neoclassical: our building has Ionic columns, deep-set arched windows, ornamental stonework and a balustrade. But Nash is best known for the Brighton Pavilion, his work on Buckingham Palace and one of London's best-known landmarks - Marble Arch.

The rate-books for 1825 show the Crown lessee of No.12 York Gate as Henry Kater (1777-1835) one of the foremost men of science of his time. Kater named the property 'York House'. His father, Henry Kater, of German descent, was a member of the firm of John & Henry Kater, sugar-bakers, of Tucker Street, Bristol. Kater's time at York Gate was chiefly taken up with scientific pursuits and he died here on 26 April 1835. A later occupant of No.12 was Peter Square, one of Queen Victoria's chemists, here in the 1860's and 1870's. Between the wars the property was occupiedin part by the Royal Academy of Music.

Regent's Park was badly hit during the Second World War, and the terraces were only restored in the 1970s. It was at this time that the two facades at York Gate were converted into offices. One of the peculiarities of the building's lease is that, along with all the Regent's Park terraces, the building must be repainted every four years in a colour which imitates Bath stone.

York Gate faces Thomas Hardwick's Marylebone Parish Church (where 19th century poets Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning were married) - and the building on the other side of the park entrance is used as a practice annexe for students at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music.

Tens of thousands of tourists come to this area every year to see Madame Tussaud's, The Planetarium, and the home of Arthur Conan Doyle's fictional hero Sherlock Holmes - 221b Baker Street. Regent's Park also has a beautiful open-air theatre at its centre which stages an annual summer Shakespeare season, of which Blick Rothenberg is a sponsor.

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