The Swansea ball boy famously kicked by a Chelsea player has moved his £150million vodka business into a gold-plated HQ. Charlie Morgan made headlines when Eden Hazard kicked him during a Chelsea vs Swansea City match in 2013.
The 28-year-old has since built a spirit empire alongside school friend Jackson Quinn, with Au Vodka now selling 35,000 bottles a day. The firm has now moved to a 60,000sqft HQ in his home town of Swansea, covered with their iconic gold-plated branding.
Images show the eccentric base even includes an Au Vodka-emblazoned maze, nine-hole mini-golf course and pool tables. There’s even a private chef for employees to grab lunch at a canteen fitted with golden chairs and sleek black tables.
Charlie said: “I’ve come a long way since being a ball boy at Swansea games. The growth since we started Au Vodka in 2015 has been mesmerising and I think we have a HQ that reflects that now. With such a recognisable bottle we couldn’t have a grey office. We had to incorporate as much gold as possible.
“From our mini-golf course to the canteen chairs, the office really looks the part and we hope the staff enjoy it too. We can’t wait to take our exciting next steps as a business here.”
Charlie, who was named in The Times’ millionaires under 30 list, recently opened an office in the US and is looking to grow his firm’s transatlantic influence. Back in 20134 he allegedly attempted to waste time in the final minutes of a match by shielding the ball from when it went out for a corner.
Eden Hazard was given a red card for kicking Charlie – but says he was just going for the ball.