Set in the Caribbean, Richard Branson’s  holiday home Necker Island is a by-word for luxury and has played host to a vast  array of A-list celebrities and royalty.

But the 74-acre paradise was severely damaged  in a 2011 fire that devastated the island’s Great House.

Two years later, Branson has announced the  extensive restructure of the house is almost complete and will soon be available  for exclusive hire once again – for a staggering £40,000 per night.

Paradise: Sir Richard Branson has spent two years  refurbishing the Great House on Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands

Stunning: The new master bedroom in the Great House will  have unbelievable panoramic views of Necker Island

Luxury: The new Great House was modelled on the  original, which burned down in the 2011 fire, and has retained the same Balinese  design

Premium: Enjoying the private sandy beaches and gorgeous  swimming pool comes at a premium price – a staggering £40,000 per night

 

Nice if you can get it: For those that can afford to  rent the island, guests have the use of Necker’s have the use the swimming pool  on the Island¿s Bali Lo, Buah and Kukila

Opulent: As well as sleeping 20 people in the Great  House, guests also have access to the beach houses (pictured)

The private island house, which Branson has  owned since 1979, boasts eight guest rooms, each with a balcony, king-sized bed  and en-suite bathroom.

A 1,500 square feet master suite sits  upstairs that has been specifically designed to give panoramic views of the  Caribbean, the Atlantic Ocean and neighbouring islands.

It includes a two-person Jacuzzi, stand-alone  outdoor bath and a kitchenette area with a fully-stocked fridge.

The island can be hired exclusively for up to  30 adults but this kind of luxury comes at a price per night that few people  earn in a year.

An exclusive week’s rental, that includes six  individual Bali Houses dotted around the island and  two tennis courts, costs £275,800.

The Great House was gutted by the fire on  August 22, 2011, which was believed to have been caused by lightning from  Tropical Storm Irene.

Kate Winslet, who has since married Branson’s  nephew Ned Rocknroll, was in the house at  the time and helped carry the business tycoon’s 90-year-old mother Eve.

He told ITV News shortly after the fire: ‘She  [Winslet] said it was like being on a film set where you’re waiting for the word  ‘cut’, but it just didn’t  come.’

Romantic: For even more privacy, guests can choose to  stay in the secluded beach house on the 74-acre island that straddles the  Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean

 

Al Fresco: Outside a table is laid big enough to seat  all the guests on Necker at the same time

Fireside: Guests can lounge by the sea on the beach in  hammocks, ornate sofas or eat and drink on the sand

Leisure: Necker boasts two tennis courts and guests can  also exercise in the opulent pool or relax in the outdoor spa

Decadent: As well as chefs on the island providing top  quality food, the Great House comes with fully-stocked fridges for midnight  feasts

The Virgin boss said guests, including his  son Sam and daughter Holly, were woken at about 5am after hearing loud bangs as  gas canisters exploded.

He said: ‘It was terrifying for me  because  my daughter and nephews, nieces, friends were all in the house, so I just ran,  naked, towards the house to try to  make sure I could get people out.’

The new house, which has followed the  original’s Balinese design, is due to reopen on September 2013.

The rest of the island has remained open to  visitors since the fire.

New features include an expansive outdoor  terrace with hammocks and sofas and a large dining table for guests to eat  together al fresco.

There is also a fully-stocked bar for  cocktails and a crow’s nest on the roof has amazing views.

Sir Richard Branson said: ‘Necker Island has  been my home for more than 30 years and for me it is the  most beautiful place  in the world.

Phoenix from the ashes: Sir Richard Branson, pictured  with his wife Joan, and daughter Holly, said he is ‘thrilled’ with the  refurbished house

Devastated: The Great House was totally gutted in the  2011 blaze that is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike

Rescue: Kate Winslet, the wife of Branson’s nephew Ned  Rocknroll, is credited with helping to rescue the billionaire’s beloved mother  Eve from the blaze

Ablaze: The Great House was gutted by the inferno but  all the guests, including Sir Richard Branson’s children, managed to escape

‘The brand new Great House is the heart of  the island and I am thrilled with the results so far.

‘The opening of the Great House in September  signals a new dawn for Necker which I’m very excited about.’

Branson was only 28 when he bought the island  for £180,000 and turned it into the superstar resort.

Necker Island – aptly for the Virgin boss –  is located in the British Virgin Islands.

It is a surrounded by turquoise  waters,  coral reefs and white sandy beaches and as well as celebrity  guests is also  home to diverse wildlife including flamingos, iguanas,  lemurs and giant  tortoises.

Powerful friends: Sir Richard Branson has known to have  hosted Prince Harry and Tony Blair at Necker Island

Royal draw: Diana, Princess of Wales, is pictured on a  deck chair on Necker Island during a holiday in January, 1989

Prince’s favourite: Prince William (centre) and Prince  Harry (right) arrives at Necker Island by boat during the 1989 trip

Over the years it has attracted royalty such  as Princess Diana, Prince Harry and the Duchess of Cambridge, who visited during  her split from Prince William, who took advantage of the privacy the island  provides.

The list of megastars from Hollywood and the  world of sport to have holidayed there is seemingly endless and includes  Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Oprah  Winfrey, the Rolling Stones and the likes of John McEnroe and Novak Djokovic.

More surprisingly, it has also been a haven  to some of the biggest names in politics such as Kofi Annan, Jimmy Carter,  Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair.

A HAVEN FOR WILDLIFE… AND  THE RICH AND FAMOUS: A HISTORY OF NECKER ISLAND

Sir Richard Branson, pictured with his infant son Sam on  Necker Island in 1986, bought it when he was just 28

The 74-acre island of Necker is part of the  British Virgin Islands and sits on the boundary of the Caribbean and Atlantic  Ocean.

It was named after the  17th century Dutch squadron commander Johannes de Neckere but remained  uninhabited during the early 20th century.

It was bought by Sir Richard Branson in 1979  after he heard some of the Virgin Islands were being sold.

Branson was just 28 – and only six years  after starting the Virgin Group.

He offered a very low bid of £100,000, which  was rejected, but eventually secured the paradise island for £180,000.

He was forced to build a resort within five  years of taking ownership, otherwise the government said it would be taken back  by the state.

According to reporters, Branson spent about  £6.5million creating the luxury resort over the next three years.

It has played host to an array of the world’s  most powerful, rich and famous.

Princess Diana chose the island for her  holiday with Prince William and Prince Harry.

It was also a haven of privacy for the  Duchess of Cambridge when she fled Britain during her temporary split from  Prince William.

Google founder Larry Page even chose it for  his wedding to Lucy Southworth in 2007.

It was also the site of Sir Richard’s  daughter Holly Branson’s wedding to shipbroker Fred Andrews just months after  devastating fire.

Her wedding was on the same spot as that of  Sir Richard and his wife Joan Templeman’s in 1989 when Holly was eight and her  brother Sam was four.

In April 2011, Branson offered the island to  his close friend Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge for the royal  couple honeymoon.

Read more: DailyMail