Lewes Crescent, Brighton, BN2

Built as ‘Belgravia by the Sea’, Kemp’s Grade I listed masterpiece Lewes Crescent is one of the UK’s finest Regency developments framing verdant gardens and a sparkling expanse of English Channel. Directly opposite exclusive garden enclosures for the residents this beautiful, one bedroom apartment has a sensitive balance, preserving exceptional period features in both the gracious reception and restful principle bedroom whilst delivering an easy contemporary lifestyle with a second single bedroom used as a private home office, bright, well planned kitchen and wet room.

Spanning the entire ground floor with an astounding 1014 square feet in which to spread your wings, this glamorous home also has a rare back door to secure storage and the quiet street behind. With access to the 7.5 acres of protected communal grounds with a tunnel to the beach to enjoy, a scenic stroll along the seafront (or a swift cab ride) takes you to our international Marina or alfresco lifestyle of our legendary coastal resort.

Style: Ground floor Regency apartment
Bedrooms: 2, 1 double, 1 small double
Living rooms: 1 spacious
Outside: Access to garden enclosures
Location: Kemp Town CA
Parking: Permit zone H
Council Tax: D

One of Brighton’s finest addresses in a world famous area of our coastal resort with the beach and exclusive landscaped gardens on your doorstep, this ground floor apartment is a special find. Steeped in history, with Regency grace this uniquely charming home also hints at its more recent past as the current owners uncovered the handwritten date of the Normandy Landings whilst decorating - which they have carefully hidden to keep it safe. Full of light and character, sympathetic improvements made to this evolving home have all respected the essence of this architectural jewel.

Beyond the grand entrance secured by answer phone, the front door of this apartment opens to an impressive, vaulted hallway with a solid wood floor to put visitors at ease -and introduces you to the generous space and light this home has to offer. Ahead, soaring ceilings, delicate friezes and a hand crafted ceiling rose for a chandelier bring Regency romance to life in a glorious reception of majestic proportion, where you can welcome your friends in timeless style before or after an evening in the city. Twin windows with original shutters frame the listed garden enclosures, skilfully planted to change with the seasons, and in the evening you can relax in front of a classical style fireplace with handmade, traditional cabinets to each side.

Peaceful and private next door, an evocative double bedroom has generous floor space, restful height and a large window almost filling the far wall to ensure it is both inviting and airy. With fitted wardrobes skilfully created to ensure the original plaster frieze overhead remains unspoilt, there is all the clothes space you could dream of, although there is ample room for more.

Central to the apartment, the wet room has natural light and a shower in keeping with the age of the building – although there is nothing old fashioned about the dual head system or heated rail for towels. Around the corner the small single bedroom has 10’11’’ x 5’8’’ (3.32m x 1.73m) to play with and a fitted wardrobe in the hall just by it, and is currently used as a quiet and comfortable home office.

Bright and cheerful with painted units providing plenty of user friendly wooden surfaces, this stylish kitchen is skilfully planned with everything easily to hand, and also blends old with new with a double butlers sink with swan neck taps beneath the window and designated space for an electric oven and tall fridge freezer- and there is a large walk in larder beneath the stairs to keep the kitchen clutter free.

Ideal for supermarket deliveries or if you’re keen cyclists, uniquely, a long passageway steps down to a back door opening to stairs which leads down to a private under stair store, and up to the quiet street behind.

Agent says:
“Lewes Crescent is the Regency jewel in our coastal crown and acknowledged as one of the best in the UK with its Grade I listing. This prime piece of history comes with rare, gated gardens only for use of the residents, and ground floor apartments in this prime address do not appear on the market often – and sell fast attracting professionals, international investors and even small families as our air is fresh and local schools are good.”

Owner’s secret:
"The Crescent is simply stunning and neighbours always say hello in the gardens, where we residents have annual parties, (not compulsory!), so you won’t feel isolated if you’re new to Brighton, and the tunnel to the beach is good fun in the summer. Inside is instantly restful with Regency proportions in the main rooms and the period detail is beautiful. Every room has natural light, and apart from the passageway, everything flows well on one level.”

What’s around you:
Shops: Local 3 minutes, Georgian Lanes a 15- minute walk
Train Station: Mainline 15-20 minutes by bus
Seafront or Park: Seafront 2 minutes, Park 5 minutes on foot

Closest Schools:
Primary: St Mark’s, Queen’s Park.
Secondary: Varndean or Dorothy Stringer.
Private: Brighton College, Brighton Girls, Roedean.

Within walking distance of the Marina with its waterfront restaurants, health club, shops and cinemas, this spacious apartment has use of 7.5 acres of Grade II listed gardens which have a tunnel to the beach said to have inspired the rabbit hole in Lewis Carrol’s ‘Alice through the Looking Glass.’ For the exclusive use of the residents of The Kemptown Estate they are private and secure, and a social focal point of a vibrant, inclusive community. With local shops and cafés, a 15 minute stroll takes you to the fashionable café culture of Kemptown Village which hosts the County Hospital and Brighton College, the arts venues and famous al fresco lifestyle of the Lanes are a five minute cab ride and close to several bus routes, the city and station serving City Airport, Gatwick and London are easy to reach.