The Approach, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1

GUIDE PRICE: £500,000--£550,000.

TWO BEDROOM GROUND FLOOR SPACIOUS MANSION APARTMENT.

ALLOCATED CAR PARKING SPACE.

SHARE OF FREEHOLD.

CHAIN FREE.

RARELY AVAILABLE.

INTERNAL VIEWINGS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.

Quiet within manicured grounds, Withdean Hall is a rare example of a magnificent Victorian country house in an exclusive location just 10 mins drive from Brighton’s city centre, 15 from the sea and 3 from Preston Park’s direct trains to Gatwick and London. Now luxury apartments this prime, 2 double bed apartment -with share of freehold-spans the ground floor of an entire wing from east to west with breathtaking proportions, direct access to the gardens, a spacious cellar storeroom and allocated parking.

Built in 1861 and once home to Sir Francis Howatt, Count Eric Stenback and a boys prep school, inside 118m2 (1276 sq. ft.) of beautiful rooms deliver an elegant lifestyle. Ceilings soar in the spacious split level living dining room and reveal original decoration, a wood burning stove in the carved stone fireplace offers a warm welcome and sunlight streams through two floor to ceiling bays which frame the wrap around gardens. Light and inviting, the kitchen breakfast room is a classic beauty with ample space for a table and sophisticated finish, and it looks over the east garden which has a greenhouse. The guest bedroom is a generous double with fitted wardrobes to fill and a luxury bathroom just along the hallway, and absolutely private, the stately principal bedroom, with an en-suite wet room is a dream come true with a majestic bay sweeping open to a sheltered garden.

This prestigious area between the friendly bakeries, bistro pubs and small supermarkets of Preston and Patcham Villages has something for everyone, including easy access to good primary and secondary schools. The gym and sports facilities of Withdean Stadium and Withdean Park are a 2 minute drive whilst the playground, velodrome, sports facilities and fun runs of Preston Park, which hosts events during our festivals, are just 5 minutes away. Well-connected with bus routes to give older children independence it is off London Road which takes you to city’s cultural heart, the North Laine and the sea, or to the National Park and A23/A27 for Lewes, Gatwick and M23 in minutes.



In brief:
Style Detached Victorian mansion, 1861, converted into luxury apartments. SOF
Type 2 double beds, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite), living dining room, kitchen breakfast room, cellar storeroom
Area Withdean/Surrenden border
Floor Area 1276 sq.ft
Outside Large communal gardens
Parking Allocated off street, bike store, plentiful on street ‘light touch’ visitor permit parking
Council Tax Band D

Why You’ll Like It:
Private, quiet and secure with leafy views, this unique architectural gem is a rare find in a prestigious hot spot hidden away on the edge of the city. Screened from an exclusive residential road by high, historic hedges and set within mature gardens full of birdsong this grand, Victorian masterpiece is a joy to return to – complete with discreet allocated off street parking, eco-friendly bike store and rare double glazing.

The Entrance Hall and Living Dining Room:
Inside blends sociable, contemporary design with unspoilt proportions where a broad entrance hall has ample space for coats and bags and an easy flow to the sun-lit living dining room. Dual, deep bays rise from floor to ceiling in two walls to embrace the tranquil setting, and two glamorous split levels deliver plenty of space to enjoy in quiet seclusion – or to share with friends and family. Fabulous original features include a painted, vaulted ceiling and carved wooden panels, and the original stone fireplace now offers a warm welcome with an iron wood burning stove.

The Kitchen Breakfast Room:
Along the hallway, a sociable kitchen breakfast room has been skilfully designed for everyday but also for parties. A streamlined beauty with plenty of room for an informal table, ample storage and classic black quartz surfaces, the designer finish includes a high spec Neff touch induction hob as well as a grill/combi and fan oven in a tower.

The Grounds:
Outside, the communal gardens wrap around the house so there is always a spot to sit in the sun. Neighbours are considerate and there is plenty of space to share, although this apartment opens to the no through lawn on the north side, which stretches from east to west. A tranquil refuge where you can retreat from the full heat of the mid-summer sun, bordered by a leafy copse and made private by mature shrubs and hedging it is naturally separate from the rest of the gardens, with a greenhouse to the east.

The Guest Bedroom and Luxury Bathroom:
Returning inside, the first double bedroom is ideal for guests with calm decoration, fitted, mirrored wardrobes to fill and open views. Ready to move into, there is easy access to the luxury bathroom, which is central to the apartment, and has a shower above the bath.

The Principal Bedroom En-Suite:
All about relaxing in a stunning setting, the beautiful principal suite embraces the gardens – which you can enjoy even from bed. With the graceful proportions only period properties provide, the room is restful with a magnificent full height bay opening to the garden and a graceful window to the east to bring in the morning sunlight. A soothing refuge where it is easy to forget that you are 10 mins from the city centre, even the en-suite has a Victorian influence in the sensitively chosen natural slate but incorporates great contemporary design with inset shelving, a dual head shower and a wet room finish.

Agent Says:
“With a flowing interior and a fabulous gardens, this historic, ground floor apartment is one of a kind. Private and quiet, it is in one of Brighton’s most exclusive areas offering a glamorous lifestyle within a 2-5 minute radius of schools, parks, shops and a station to London.”

Owner’s Secret:
“The house is beautiful, and surrounded by its own gardens it is a tranquil retreat with open views from all of the rooms- and easy parking. On the ground floor, it was the main reception of the original house and has wonderful period features including the glorious, hand painted vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace. The huge bays bring in the leafy setting as well as plenty of sunshine, and with so much space and glorious proportions, it is always a pleasure to come home. Outside, no-one has ever used the lawn outside my door since we have been here, and there’s usually a spot where we can sit privately in the sun by my apartment – but the neighbours are friendly and considerate so there’s no issue if you use other parts of the garden. The area is safe and quiet, and close to bus routes and the station you can be independent from a car.”

Where it is:
Shops: Preston Village + small Sainsbury’s 2 mins, Patcham Village + Co-Op 3 mins
Station: Preston Park 3 mins by car, 20 by foot, Brighton or Hove Stations 8-10 by cab
Seafront or Park: Withdean, Preston Park & Hollingbury Park/Golf Course all under 5 minutes, Seafront 15 mins

Closest schools:
Primary: St Bernadette’s RC, Balfour, Downs
Secondary: Varndean or Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: BHASVIC, Varndean, MET, BIM
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing, Roedean

Although the thriving city centre’s just minutes away, this exclusive area between the sea and the South Downs National Park is quiet with plenty of amenities nearby. Local schools are good and there’s access to some of the best private schools in the country including Brighton College and which all offer school buses. Withdean Sports Stadium has a range of leisure facilities including a gym, tennis courts and athletic track, and by it, Withdean Woods Nature Reserve has its own community of joggers and dog walkers. Withdean & Preston Parks are both a short drive each with open spaces and sports facilities – and Preston Park has a playground, full of local parents. For those who need swift access to Gatwick or London, Brighton, Preston Park and Hove Stations are all easy to reach by foot, bus or cab and access to the A23/ A27 is quick.