Pimlico Plumbers boss Charlie Mullins sells up for £125million to focus on music

The entrepreneur says he will ‘never retire’, and will also rekindle his bid to be London mayor and concentrate on property ventures in Spain after the sale of the firm he founded

Pimlico Plumbers founder Charlie Mullins has sold the business for over £125million – and says he will now focus on the music industry and running for London mayor.

Mullins has just sold Pimlico Plumbers to US home services Neighborly for between £125million and £145million, according to sources close to the deal.

Speaking to The Mirror, Mullins said: “It was a big decision to make, to step away completely. I’ve spent a lifetime at Pimlico. But I’ve handed it over to good people. Neighbourly has the same work ethic as myself, and the have the financial backing.

“I’m also over the moon that my son Scott remains as chief executive.”

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He added: “I’ve had a lot of stick from people on Twitter over the years, talking about how I look and how I speak, and about the Brexit thing.

“All I can say to those sad little people is: I’ve got over £100million for that business, so who’s laughing now?”

Mullins is one of the most high-profile opposers of Brexit, and once told The Mirror he would so “anything that can help delay or stop Brexit”.

Pimlico Plumbers was founded by Mullins in 1979 as just himself and a bag of tools, but has grown to employ 440 people and turn over £43.27million in the year to May 31 2020.

It completes more than 100,000 plumbing and other service jobs to London homeowners and businesses each year.

Mullins said he would now focus on several ventures, including the music industry.

He said: “I’m stating to get interested in the music industry, that’s going extremely well. One act I help, Rara, has a single out called ‘Biker Boy’ in October.

“She’s so good, she’s going to be the next Amy Winehouse.

“I don’t know anything about music but I’ve got a decent business brain, and I’m acting as a business advisor.”

He added that he has some property ventures in Spain, and is speaking to a Spanish lawyer to get citizenship so he can spend more time in Marbella.

He also has plans to rekindle his 2018 bid to run for mayor of London, currently held by Sadiq Khan.

“The London mayor thing, I couldn’t focus on it too much before because of Pimlico,” he said.

“One of the reasons is that people would have said it was for the benefit of Pimlico. But that’s on the cards for when they chuck the geezer out or he steps down.

“The one thing I’m not going to do is retire. And one thing’s for sure – I won’t be unblocking any more toilets.”

Mullins added that he is also looking forward to Pimlico Plumber’s December party, partly held to thank the firm’s apprentices.

In June Pimlico Plumbers introduced a ‘no jab, no job’ policy, four months after announcing it was being drafted into all new contracts.

The company started issuing job adverts with the clause “Covid-19 vaccination required”.

It was the first time the company has listed the controversial new policy on internal vacancies.