Description
Lawrence Wright. Specialist Hotel Agent. 01747 228941
A Grand Country Town Guest House
The Retreat
47 Bell Street
Shaftesbury
Dorset
SP78AE
9 Luxury En Suite Bedrooms; Owners Flat with Roof Garden;
2nd Flat ( currently let); Private Car Park; Central Location;
Real Potential for a Restaurant with Rooms
Plans drawn to convert to 2 let flats, larger owners & less letting bedrooms; or, granny accommodation – very flexible.
Situation and Description
Bell Street is one of the main streets leading into the town centre which is only a short walk away. As Shaftesbury is on a hill the views from the rear of the property to the south are outstanding.
The house was built in 1870 of Greensand Stone with a magnificent Bath Stone porch under a traditional slate roof. There is a covered vehicular access from Bell Street to the tarmacadam car park to the rear. There is gas fired central heating. The property is Grade II Listed.
Shaftesbury was a Saxon hill top town founded by Alfred the Great. His daughter founded an Abbey which allowed the town to grow in importance. The town boasts magnificent views across the surrounding countryside and tourism is the main income for the town; many people come to see Gold Hill made famous by the Hovis advertisement shot here by Ridley Scott in 1973 and later reproduced in a tv sketch by Ronnie Barker (see youtube). Thomas Hardy wrote about the town and refers to it as ‘Shaston’ “dominating the engirdled and secluded Blackmore Vale”. Today, the town is becoming known through snowdrops with a Snowdrop Festival and a growing Heritage Collection.
There are a good range of interesting independent shops, restaurants and pubs for guests to enjoy and a little further afield the shops and heritage of Bath and Salisbury are a convenient distance away. To the south is a the Jurassic Coast – A World Heritage Site and to the north west is Stonehenge. Closer to home, excellent walks can be enjoyed on Cranborne Chase, West Wiltshire Downs and Hambledon Hill. About five miles away is Compton Abbas airfield where flights can be taken over the surrounding countryside, or, simply watch the action from their excellent restaurant overlooking the runway.
The guest house has good communications with the main railway line from London Waterloo running through Gillingham approx. 5 miles distant and in addition with the A30 running past Shaftesbury and the A303 about 8 miles to the north, there is quick, easy access for travellers from major conurbations. The A350 North – South route from the A303 to the coast runs through the town.
The property is built on the site of the former Blue Coat School which dated from the mid eighteenth century. It has been a doctor’s surgery and a library and became a guest house in the 1990’s. The current proprietors purchased in 2000 and lavished much expenditure to bring the property to the luxury standard seen today.
Accommodation
GROUND FLOOR
Porch
Entrance Hall with storage
Living Room ( formerly bedroom 1) fireplace and en suite shower room with wash basin and wc.
Bedroom 2 Double with en suite shower room with wash basin and w.c.
Inner Hall with stairs to first floor. Large linen cupboard. W.C. and wash basin. Doors to Dining Room, Kitchen and stairs to lower ground floor.
Dining Room – a magnificent room measuring approx. 24’6” into the bay window x 16’6”. Imposing brick fireplace and dramatic carved wooden over mantel. Seating for 22.
Kitchen – Approx. 16’ x 15’6” well fitted with a large range of base units with heat resistant work surfaces and wall cupboards above. Double bowl sink unit, Range type cooker. Gas fired boiler providing hot water and heating to the building including the lower ground floor flat.
Rear Hall accessed from the Dining Room and car park with w.c. and wash basin off.
LOWER GROUND FLOOR
Accessed from a side door in the property or the Inner Hall.
Self Contained Flat:
Entrance Hall
Open Plan Living Room with Fitted Kitchen
Double Bedroom
Bathroom with bath, wash basin and w.c with a shower over the bath.
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The guest house laundry room
FIRST FLOOR
Bedroom 3 Twin with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
Bedroom 4 Twin with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
Bedroom 5 Double with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
Bedroom 6 Double – a magnificent room measuring approx. 20’ max in to the bay window x 17’9” En suite shower, wash basin and w.c. Stunning Views South to the hills.
Bedroom 7 Twin with en shower, wash basin and w.c.
Bedroom 8 Single with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
SECOND FLOOR
Bedroom 9 Double with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
Bedroom 10 Double with en suite shower, wash basin and w.c.
Private Flat:
Living Room approx. 18’ x 16’ with beautiful views to the South. Door to secluded and private roof terrace.
Kitchen with 1.5 bowl sink inset into work surfaces with cupboards under.
Bedroom – Double sized. En suite shower room with wash basin and w.c. Built in cupboards.
OUTSIDE
Covered way to CAR PARK for approx. 8 cars
Tenure: Freehold
Services: All mains services connected.
The Business: A highly regarded guest house providing bed and breakfast in truly luxury surroundings. The business is run by a two person partnership with staff when required and has been in the present hands since 2000. The business is now available due to retirement.
The high class Grosvenor Hotel in the town and The Royal Chase Hotel are both venues for meetings, conferences and weddings and The Retreat derives a steady income from delegates and wedding guests.
The agents are informed that after many years of successful trading the business is now run as more of a lifestyle and turnover is currently around £68,000 p.a. – as recently as 2008 the business was achieving a turnover of £108,000 p.a. – at today’s tariffs this level of occupancy relates to a turnover now of approximately £130,000 In recent times, due to illness of near relatives, the closing of Bedroom 1 as a letting bedroom and the opportunity to take more time off for hobbies and frequent holidays the business has been restricted.
New owners may wish to introduce evening meals or create a small intimate restaurant in the fine dining room serviced by the large kitchen. Shaftesbury and the area has a high disposable income. If the new proprietor does not wish to cook, a chef could rent the kitchen and dining room in the evening on a licence arrangement.
Alternatively, if new owners wished to use more of the main property for themselves, offer less letting bedrooms and derive income from two flats, our clients have plans drawn up for creating a larger living space by amalgamating some letting bedrooms.
A well designed website: www.the-retreat.co.uk will show you around the property including the private quarters and let flat via a virtual tour.
Price: £895,000 Freehold
Fixtures, Fittings, Furniture and Trade Equipment: An inventory of trade contents is included in the sale price. A detailed inventory will be prepared at a later stage.
Viewing: Strictly by appointment with the sole agents.
The accuracy of these particulars is not guaranteed by the agents nor do they form part of any contract. Applicants should verify details by personal examination and enquiry. Items of furniture, fixtures, fittings and equipment are mentioned for illustrative purposes only and do not necessarily form part of the Trade Inventory referred to above, neither has the agent tested any equipment, fixtures, fittings or services and so cannot verify that they are in working order or fit for the purpose. References to the Tenure of the Property are based on information supplied by the Vendor. The agent has not had sight of the title documents. A buyer is advised to obtain verification from their solicitor.
You are advised to check the availability of the property before traveling a long distance to view.
