Kentish Express Ashford & District
SELLING UP
■ Award-winning guest house next to ‘Large Burton’ development goes on market for £1.5m ■ B&B is set to become surrounded by homes after plans approved for controversial estate
An award-winning B&B which is set to become surrounded by homes has gone on the market for £1.5m.
The Downsview Guesthouse in Kennington triumphed on Channel 4’s ‘Three in a Bed’ programme in 2011 - a reality show which saw the owners go headto-head with two other hotels.
But now the Willesborough Road site has been put up for sale amid plans for a controversial 725-home housing estate on farmland next to the property.
Last year, Quinn Estates was given permission for its Conningbrook Park, or ‘Large Burton’, scheme which includes a new site for Ashford Bowls Club, a two-form entry primary school and community centre.
The application approved in May only grants full permission for 288 homes, with outline permission for the other 437 - including those directly behind the guest house.
Originally the manor house to Holmlea Farm, the B&B sits on a one-acre site with 13 ensuite guest bedrooms and a two-bedroom apartment/holiday let.
Christie & Co, which is marketing the property, says it features a “wealth of original period features including decorative cornices and fireplaces”.
In the description, the property advisers say: “Downsview sits on a plot that extends to almost an acre comprising formal gardens, including extensive lawns and views to the rear over adjoining farmland.
“There are two former shipping containers, one providing useful storage facilities and the other converted to a gym, currently used by the owners for their own private use.
“The owners run the business with the support of a small team of staff that has allowed them to have an enjoyable lifestyle.
“It could continue to run as it is now, or more hands-on owners could save on some of those staff costs, should they wish to do so.”
Christie & Co says the site which was built in the early 1900s - “benefits from attracting guests from all over the UK and the continent”.
The firm added: “Having purchased the business in 2016, the current owners have spent much time and effort improving the property even further, which has seen trade grow significantly during their stewardship.”
Last month, the Kentish Express revealed how the nearby Croft Hotel is being turned into a six-pronged restaurant complex featuring a country pub and pizza restaurant.
The site is set to open in August - but only if the Covid19 vaccine has been fully rolled out by then.