A Glorious Evening at Bluebird Chelsea Celebrates a Century of Speed

Bluebird Chelsea, the iconic restaurant and former Bluebird Motor Company building, proudly hosted a spectacular celebration on Wednesday 16 July, marking the centenary of Sir Malcolm Campbell’s groundbreaking 150mph land speed record at Pendine Sands in 1925.

In partnership with the National Motor Museum and The Campbell Family Heritage Trust, guests gathered for an unforgettable evening honouring one of the most legendary names in British motorsport history.

The evening began with a Champagne reception, followed by a beautifully curated three-course dinner. The star of the night — the original 350hp Sunbeam Blue Bird which was proudly displayed, captivating guests with its commanding presence and remarkable story.

A highlight of the evening was a talk by Don Wales, grandson of Sir Malcolm Campbell and an accomplished record breaker himself, who shared personal insights into the Campbell family’s enduring legacy of fearless innovation and speed.

A silent auction, hosted by the National Motor Museum, helped raise vital funds to support the museum’s ongoing work to preserve and celebrate Britain’s motoring heritage.

Lord Montagu of Beaulieu commented, "This centenary event shone a light on one of the most important cars in our collection, while celebrating the spirit of adventure and engineering brilliance that defined both Sir Malcolm and Donald Campbell. Seeing the 350HP Sunbeam at Bluebird Chelsea was truly a moment of history brought to life."

Martin Williams, CEO of The Evolv Collection, added, "It was an honour to collaborate on such a special evening. Bringing the 350HP Sunbeam back to its spiritual home was a poignant reminder of the building’s illustrious motorsport history."

Bluebird Chelsea, originally built in 1923 as the Bluebird Motor Company, was the perfect setting for this milestone event, seamlessly merging its motoring roots with contemporary elegance.

21 July 2025 will mark a century since Blue Bird set the 150.76mph land speed record at Pendine Sands. To honour this milestone exactly 100 years later, the National Motor Museum will return the legendary 350HP Sunbeam ‘Blue Bird’ to Pendine for a special start-up and static display on the beach. Visitors can see the car up close outside the Museum of Land Speed from 10:00am on Monday 21 July, before it moves onto the sands for photos between 11:00am and 12:00 noon, then returns to the museum for the remainder of the day.

These events form part of the centenary celebrations for the Sunbeam 350HP, which can usually be seen on display in the National Motor Museum at  Beaulieu.

_{About Bluebird Chelsea}

_{As one of Chelsea’s most iconic landmarks, Bluebird Chelsea (a Grade II listed building), graces King’s Road with its timeless charm. Originally a hub for the Bluebird Motor Company, it underwent a remarkable transformation into a stylish restaurant in 1997. Bought by D&D London in 2006, Bluebird Chelsea’s café, bar, and restaurant offer modern European cuisine and craft cocktails in a smart setting adorned with monochrome floor tiles, captivating lighting, and a terrace.
 
About The Evolv Collection}

_{The Evolv Collection is a pioneering, premium hospitality group, founded by Sir Terrence Conran in 1991. Our portfolio includes the most iconic restaurants in modern history, homed in London, Birmingham, Manchester and New York. Every brand in the collection has its own heritage, distinctive character, offering and ambience. By striving for excellence through investing in our people, we drive a passion to deliver outstanding guest experiences.}