6-bedroom period house with views over to the Mendip Hills and Glastonbury Tor and three holiday letting cottages, all set within landscaped gardens and grounds including an outdoor heated swimming pool, hot tub, log cabin and outbuildings. In all, extending to 0.64 acres.
The property comprises a 6-bedroomed period house, two semi-detached holiday letting cottages and a detached holiday cottage, all set within landscaped gardens and grounds including an outdoor heated swimming pool, hot tub, log cabin and outbuildings. Views over to the Mendip Hills and Glastonbury Tor, located in the village of Meare, 3 miles from Glastonbury and 9 miles from the popular cathedral city of Wells.
In all, extending to 0.64 acres.
For sale as a whole by private treaty.
Location Down House & Cottages is located within the rural Somerset village of Meare which provides a primary school, Post Office and farm shop. Further amenities and facilities can be found in Glastonbury (3 miles) including supermarkets, shops, restaurants, pubs, a church, schools and Glastonbury Abbey which is a visitor attraction in its own right, famous for King Arthur’s Tomb and is used for events and concerts over the summer months.
The cathedral city of Wells, England’s smallest city, is 9 miles away with Bishop’s Palace and grounds along with Vicars Close, often used in TV filming due to its picturesque nature which makes Wells a popular tourist attraction. Wells has been used as the film location of Hot Fuzz, The Huntsman’s Winters War, Elizabeth - The Golden Age and others.
Wells offers further amenities and facilities including Wells Cathedral School along with other state schools. The independent Sidcot School and Millfield School at Street are nearby.
The property is part of the Mendip District and is located on the southern edge of the Mendip Hills. Local tourist attractions in the area include Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Wookey Hole, various National Trust sites and the East Somerset Railway.
Taunton, the county town of Somerset, is located 26 miles away which is home to the Somerset Cricket Club. In addition, the town provides a multiplex cinema and hospital.
Down House is located 20 miles from the Victorian seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare, 29 miles from the Roman and spa city of Bath and 29.5 miles from the Maritime city of Bristol which offers a range of tourist attractions. The expansive sands at Brean and Berrow are 17 miles away. Bristol International Airport is 21 miles.
The property is located approximately 12 miles from the M5 motorway at junction 23 (Puriton) and is easily accessible to the Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels and Exmoor National Park.
Down House Three storey property comprising on the ground floor of an entrance hall with Karndean wood effect flooring and original staircase with polished wooden balustrade to first floor, sitting room with fireplace, family room with fireplace, dining room, breakfast room, study, shower room, utility room and modern kitchen. Accessed externally is a boiler room.
At first floor, a gallery landing, 4-bedrooms, family bathroom, separate WC and airing cupboard. Bedroom 1 has an en-suite shower room.
At second floor are two further bedrooms.
The Cottages Three self-contained holiday letting cottages, two adjoining the main house and a detached upside down cottage, all with fitted kitchens and modern white bathroom suites. Each of the cottages have a dedicated outdoor space with seating for guests previously with garden furniture.
Upside Down Detached two-storey upside down cottage with 2 bedrooms, one with an en-suite bathroom, and a further shower room on the ground floor. At first floor level, an open plan sitting/dining room and kitchen area. (Sleeps 4).
West Down Single storey cottage comprising a hall, sitting room, kitchen/diner and bathroom. Two bedrooms, one with an en-suite shower room. (Sleeps 4). (There is potential to interconnect West Down into the main house via the dining room to make an annexe for a dependent relative, if required).
East Down Single storey cottage providing a sitting room, separate kitchen/dining room, inner hall and bedroom with en-suite shower room. (Sleeps 2)
The Business - Same ownership since 2004 and is for sale due to retirement. - Currenlty using Country Cottages as their agent and advertise also on Airbnb. - Good location with views over to Glastonbury Tor and near to the cathedral city of Wells. - The road communications to the property are good via the M5 motorway. - The business ceased trading in 2019 due to personal reasons. - The gross turnover in 2019 was £25,124 from the letting of the three cottages. - Previously, repeat business was approximately 30% and the business traded under the VAT threshold. - There is potential to convert the car port and the workshop into an additional holiday letting cottage subject to gaining the relevant planning consents. - Previously the owners allowed the customers use the gardens and grounds including the log cabin next to the outdoor swimming pool and hot tub. - West Down Cottage could easily be incorporated back into the main house as an annexe for a dependent relative or family member if required. - The business does not currently have a website.
Outside Landscaped gardens and grounds are an integral part of the property which are laid mainly to lawn with mature trees, shrub and flower borders and two ornamental ponds. Set within the grounds is an outdoor heated swimming pool with electric heat exchange unit, patio area and sun terrace, all used previously by guests.
Timber log cabin with wooden floor, windows and French doors overlooking the outdoor swimming pool with a wood burning stove and skylights. To the rear of the property is a decking area with views over the surrounding countryside, a hot tub and a vegetable patch.
To the front of the main house is an asphalt driveway with parking for 8/10 vehicles which gives access to the workshop and the car port where there is parking for a further 2/3 vehicles. Next to the upside down cottage is the guest laundry with plumbing for a washing machine, power and additional storage for the holiday letting cottages.
Method of Sale The property is offered for sale by private treaty, inclusive of trade inventory to include furnishings, equipment, fixtures and fittings in relation to the business, excluding any personal items.
Tenure & Possession The freehold interest is being offered for sale with vacant possession available on completion.
Services The house and cottages are serviced by mains electricity, water and drainage. Down House and Upside Down cottage are serviced by oil-fired central heating. East Down and West Down are serviced by off-peak night storage heating.
EPC Rating Down House has an EPC rating of F.
Council Tax Band: F
Local Authorities Somerset Council www.somerset.gov.uk
Viewings Strictly by appointment with the agents.
The next steps...
1
Establish funds
How will you fund the purchase?
Before making an offer on a property you will want to consider your financial situation, your income and outgoings.
Will you finance the purchase of your next property from the sale of an existing property which can put you in a chain, arrange a mortgage through your bank or buy the property outright.
To help you finance your next property purchase, we have a long established relationship with an independent mortgage broker who can discuss your situation with you.
They do all the legwork for you, working on your behalf with the lender
They compare wholesale mortgage rates from a large number of banks and lenders all at once
Their wholesale interest rates can be lower than retail (bank branch) interest rates
They offer more loan options because they work with numerous banks and lenders
They can finance tricky deals because of their knowledge and various lending partners
They are typically easier to get in contact with, and are less bureaucratic.
However advantages of working with your bank are:
You may be able to build off an existing relationship (and gain discounts if you have a checking or savings account)
You may already know the banker who will handle your mortgage
Banks may be more accountable than a smaller shop
They may offer lower interest rates in some cases
Their ability to add mortgage to existing banking profile and make automatic payments from linked account.
2
Making an offer
with Carter Jonas.
When you see a property you are interested in on our website, call us 24/7 to arrange a viewing. Or if you prefer, get in touch via our website and we will call you back to find a time to view the property that suits you.
Once you’ve found a property you want to buy, it’s time to make an offer. A bit of negotiation is to be expected, however don't offer so little that you end up in a lengthy negotiation process, as you might lose the property altogether if someone else makes a higher bid.
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3
Need to sell a property
or thinking of letting?
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