GUIDE PRICE; £850,000--£900,000.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.


Opposite the fabulous woodland walks of Withdean Park with footpath access from this exclusive location, this quiet 4 bedroom detached house with a large, idyllic garden at the back and a sunny terrace, off street parking and a garage at the front is a rare find. With open, leafy views from all the main rooms it is especially private, and on the borders of family- friendly Surrenden and Patcham, good primary schools, a choice of secondary schools and Preston Park Station with direct trains to Gatwick and London are all within a 5 minute radius. Extended and improved over the past 18 years, inside offers a generous 2199 sq. ft (204.3m) of elegant rooms offering versatile space where precious 1930’s features of the original house include leaded windows and a magnificent open Deco fireplace in the kitchen dining room, and there’s a formal dining room too – once a playroom and now a home office. At the back of the house, past a central utility with access to a side path, a beautiful lounge with a focus on the extensive grounds leads to a vaulted conservatory which opens to them, and ideal for guests or inter-generational living, there is a secluded ground floor double bedroom close to a shower room. Upstairs, there’s a light and airy family bathroom, and three more peaceful bedrooms, including the blissful principal, are big, bright and inviting.

This sought after area is a well-kept secret which attracts people who want quiet nights but swift access to Brighton & Hove with the shops, al fresco cafés and gastro pubs of Fiveways and Preston Village, both given a top spot in the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide within a 3-4 minute radius. The gym and sports facilities of Withdean Stadium, the countryside walks of Hollingbury Park and the playground, tennis courts, fun runs and open spaces of Preston Park, which also hosts events during our festivals, are also just a few minutes away. Well-connected with local bus routes to give older children independence nearby but out of hearing, London Road takes you to the sea or to the A23/ A27 whilst Ditchling Road sweeps up from The Level at the cultural heart of the city to the South Downs National Park.

Style 1933 detached house, sympathetically extended and improved
Type 4 double bedrooms: 3 on the 1st floor, 1 on the ground floor, 2 bathrooms, lounge, conservatory, formal dining/family room/home office, kitchen dining room, utility
Area Patcham
Floor Area 2199 sq. ft.
Garden Large landscaped garden at the back, paved terrace at the front
Parking Garage, off street
Council Tax Band F

Why you’ll like it:
Lined with prosperous homes, this leafy hilltop is one of the best kept secrets in this exclusive area of the city where properties do not appear on the market often, and this beautiful, updated house is on the market for the first time in 18 years. Built in 1933 with an oriental influence in the pavilion style gables, sensitive improvements include energy efficient windows, seamless extensions and stunning landscaping in the gardens, which at the front deliver an inviting approach with mature planting around the spacious terrace at the front of the house, smart off street parking and a remote controlled garage which has power should you want to add an electric charger for a car, and there is also mainly level access to the side for a buggy.

The Entrance Hall, Kitchen/Dining Room and Formal Dining Room/Home Office:
At the top of a short flight of stairs, a sheltering porch opens to the original, leaded front door and inside, light streams through an inviting hallway which introduces you to the calm interior decoration and practical ethos behind the layout as a central utility room has a door to the side path, so sports kits and beach towels can go straight into the machine, and there is also a boot room and a second large cupboard tucked away beneath the stairs.

Perfect for supermarket deliveries, the kitchen/dining room is by the front door -and all you can see out of the large west bay is a sea of green. With 5.26m x 3.98m (17’3 x 13’1) there is ample room for a large family table, and it is well planned with an effortless flow from the Smeg gas oven. Family friendly units provide great storage and surfaces are sturdy wood, and a soothing sanctuary to return to, the beautiful Art Deco fireplace, with leaded windows to each side, is working.

Central French doors keep options available and open to what was the formal dining room where guests once enjoyed an elegant dining experience with garden views, but which has also been used a playroom, teenage den and is currently a spacious home office with a wall lined with shelving.

The Ground Floor Bedroom and Shower Room:
Looking through the conservatory to the verdant grounds, the guest bedroom is a relaxing retreat with a leafy vista which changes with the seasons. Quiet and comfortable, this room also offers versatile use but is ideal for visiting family or an au-pair as there is a chic shower room nearby which has plenty of character in its porthole window and designer tiling.

The Living Room and Conservatory:
Full of sunlight, the sophisticated living room of dual aspect has the wow factor as soon as you walk in. With a generous 7.5m x 4.11m (24’11 x 13’6) in which to spread your wings, oak flooring is underfoot for a seamless in/out flow and calm decoration keeps the attention firmly on the beautiful, open views. Airy in summer with a broad bay to the east and glazed doors to the south to the conservatory, in winter you can relax in warm seclusion in front of a sleek Gazco Studio gas fire.

The vaulted conservatory brings the outside in and spans 3.27m x 2.59m (10’8 x 9’6) so it has space to share, and it is ideal for informal lunches or morning coffee.

The Rear Garden:
Sunny and secure, the garden is a welcoming haven to return to, a secret retreat ingeniously designed for all year interest as well as for ease of maintenance, and so large there is always a spot to sit in the sun. Immersed in its own grounds, a lit path runs along the back of the house to both sides with a water source, and shallow steps rise to a broad paved dining terrace scented by lavender and made private by bamboo and hedges. Open to the south, tiers then rise to catch the last of the sun – as is usual in a city built on hills- and two have large, level lawns for play. Inclusive for all age groups as all layers are broad and the few steps are shallow at the far end, bigger than it appears from the house, the final area to explore is the vegetable and fruit patch with a shed and fitted seating by a paved area big enough for a table, where surrounded by gardens, all you can hear is birdsong and sometimes the happy clucking of the neighbours chickens – no cockrell!

First Floor Family Bedrooms 2 and 3, and Bathroom:
Upstairs, the first floor is bright and cheerful with rooms radiating from a central landing. At the back, this family bedroom looks over gardens, including those of the quiet, neighbouring street which are set (distantly!) at 90 degrees, so this room is not directly overlooked. Fitted wardrobes are in place and at the front, with woodland views so it is not overlooked either, the third family bedroom is of pretty equal size, so there shouldn’t be any ‘lively discussions’ re allocation and it has access to large under eave space.…In the middle of this level, the big bathroom is lined with three windows, so it is lovely and airy, and there is a shower above the bath, a warming rail for towels and long hand basin.

The Principal Suite
An tranquil retreat which is blissfully quiet with glorious views across the gardens, the principal bedroom is a beauty you won’t need to change, spanning a restful 6.54m x 4.12m (21’6 x 13’6) with a wall of sophisticated storage and space for an en-suite next to the family bathroom.

Agent’s Thoughts
“In a fabulous, leafy setting directly opposite Withdean Park, this light and spacious family home has versatile, sunlit rooms to enjoy, and the huge garden is an absolute delight, so you can just enjoy weekends at home as there is plenty of space for pets, friends, little ones, or teenagers to enjoy rain or shine. A well-kept secret, this area is quiet but convenient with swift access into or out of the city.”

Owner’s Secret:
“Our happy home is always full of light and every room has relaxing, leafy views which makes it very quiet and private, too. Easy to live in, the balanced flow of rooms inside is perfect for a family, if you work from home or for someone who likes to entertain, and we wanted to preserve the charming features of the house and keep the focus of the rooms on their beautiful setting – we shall miss the sunsets from the kitchen table. A restful retreat which has adapted to all our changing needs without fuss, the dining room became a playroom then a space where our teenagers could have friends over, and it is now a home office, and outside the garden has given us all sunny space to enjoy from badminton on the lawns, basketball on the front terrace to picking fruit and vegetables at the far end to bring down for Sunday lunch. Opposite the woods with pathways to them and a lovely community of joggers and dog walkers, we are also surrounded by parks with playgrounds and have plenty of shops, cafes and amenities nearby, although when you want the bright lights and theatres of the city, you have easy access to them.”

What’s around you:
Shops: Local 4 minutes
Train Station: Preston Park Station 5 minutes by cab, 20-25 to walk
Seafront or Park: Withdean Park opposite, Hollingbury 2 mins by car, Preston Park 3, sea about 10
Closest schools:
Primary: Balfour, Patcham Infant
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High

Opposite Withdean Park with direct access to it, this unique location is also between Preston Park Village and the al fresco lifestyle of Fiveways – both given top spots by the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide. 2 minutes from the countryside walks of Hollingbury Park and Golf Course and only 3 from the 63 acres of Preston Park which has football pitches, basketball courts, tennis courts, cycle velodrome, café and open spaces hosting arts events during our festivals, this area has something for everyone of any age. Both the beach and the South Downs National Park are quick to get to and you have the best of all worlds with the vibrant arts venues, international restaurants and famous shopping of the city all easy to reach, as well as good local primary and secondary schools within a 4 minute radius. For those who need rapid and regular access to Gatwick, London or Lewes, Preston Park Station is 5 minutes by cab and there’s swift access to the A23/A27.