5 The Drive, Holmes Chapel, CW4 7BJ

A home with so much to give, from its unforgettable, showstopping entrance hall to its peaceful, private, all-encompassing gardens, No. 5, The Drive blends the enduring elegance of its 1930s Cheshire red-brick design with bold, contemporary family living, tucked away on one of Holmes Chapel's most sought-after private roads.

Turn into The Drive, a private road lined by just four distinguished detached homes commissioned by a bank to house its managers. Each home individually designed and full of character, arrive at No. 5, tucked behind colourful seasonal planting, pairing its original red-brick elegance with an ambitious contemporary reinvention, hinting at the scale that continues within. 

Purchased nine years ago, No. 5 has undergone a remarkable architect-led transformation, centred around the relocation of the staircase, opening the way for a grand extension and a complete reworking of the layout, and creation of extra bedrooms, all the while carefully preserving original Art Deco details throughout, including the 1930s door handles and the home's servants' bell indicator box.

From the shelter of the broad portico, where full-height glazing stands to either side of the front door, step inside to discover the first of many light-filled spaces.

Welcome home

Immediately, the warmth and welcome of the entrance hall are enveloping. Recessed ceiling lighting illuminates the open-plan space, where underfloor heating warms the Italian porcelain herringbone flooring underfoot. A log burner, built-in book shelving and room for an armchair create the cosy feel of a library on winter nights, whilst the eye is instinctively drawn diagonally, through the home to the window beyond, framing the large, striped rectangle of lawn and backdrop of tall trees in the distance.

OWNER QUOTE: “At Christmas, with the tree standing in the hall and the fire lit, it's just the most magical space.”

To the left, freshen up in the part tiled cloakroom with wash basin and WC, while the practicality of No. 5, The Drive continues in the utility room nearby, which also features a bespoke dog shower. Accessible from the garden via a glazed door, it provides the perfect place to wash down four-legged friends after a winter morning’s stroll through the countryside.

To the right of the entrance hall, passing the handsome honey-toned oak and glass staircase, light streams through sliding doors, providing garden glimpses and instant access outdoors.

Continue through into the snug to the left, where a large bay window draws in light while providing perfect vistas of the mature garden to the rear. A versatile room, dressed in cheerful fuchsia, it could serve as a study, playroom, music room or hobby room.

Feast your eyes

Stepping back out of the snug, ahead, passing the sliding doors, the enormous open-plan kitchen-dining-living room opens up ahead. Light streams in from large windows to the front and sliding doors to the rear for a true sense of indoor-outdoor living, with leafy, private views over the gardens to both aspects.

Snuggle up to the front, in the seating area featuring a minimalist recessed fireplace, set flush within the wall for a streamlined finish. Opposite, the kitchen continues the contemporary feel in its offering of tall, grey, handleless cabinetry and array of integrated appliances, including a full-height freezer, two Neff Hide & Slide pyrolytic ovens, a five-ring induction hob with extractor above and a full-height fridge. Clever storage abounds, from full-height pull-out drawers and shelved cupboards with integrated power for small appliances, to a hidden cutlery drawer concealed within the main pan drawer.

A sociable space, the central island breakfast bar offers seating for five, facing towards the cooking area to ensure the chef always remains part of the conversation. Topped with a single slab of quartz and centred around an undermounted Franke sink, the island also houses two integrated dishwashers – a practical addition when entertaining – alongside a handy wine cooler, additional storage and conveniently positioned power and USB sockets.

So spacious in its scale, yet retaining a sense of self, individual ‘rooms’ are subtly defined by coffered ceilings in the open-plan kitchen-dining-living room, ensuring that while bringing all the family together, each space still preserves a sense of intimacy when serving as three distinct living spaces. 

OWNER QUOTE: “With the curtains drawn in the evening, it feels like sitting in a cosy lounge, although it’s such a large space.”

Warmth emanates from the log-burning stove the living area, whilst the formal dining space is perfectly positioned so that guests can savour the view along with their meal. Sliding doors open right back, creating a seamless flow out onto the porcelain terrace. A secondary sliding panel opening back towards the hall further enhances the flow, blurring the boundaries between indoors and out, transforming the patio into a natural extension of the living space. Sunken lighting around the terrace creates the ultimate entertaining vibe after sunset, whether dining alfresco or entertaining late into the evening. 

Rest and refresh

Returning to the entrance hall, the glass and oak staircase leads up past a tall rectangle of window providing far reaching views and drawing in light.

Turn left on the landing, to discover the first of the double bedrooms, looking out over the front garden, furnished with fitted wardrobes and served by its own private shower room en suite. 

Next door, also to the left, a second double bedroom, brimming with light from large windows opening onto a Juliet balcony, is again served by an array of fitted wardrobes. Opening up from here is a versatile secondary room, currently used as a cosy den and music room with TV – ideal for a teenager seeking their own retreat, but equally well suited as a nursery, dressing room or home office. Three deep, under-eaves storage cupboards add even more storage capacity, with an en suite shower room completing this flexible suite.

Returning to the landing, continue along, discovering the main shower room on the left, directly ahead from the stairs. 

Continue along before reaching a further double bedroom on the left, overlooking the garden through a large sliding window with glass safety balustrade.

To the right, another double bedroom also accommodates the flue serving the log-burning stove below.

At the end of the landing, retreat to the privacy of the master suite, flooded with light and offering far reaching views out over the garden through large sliding windows, again fitted with safety glass and where layers of established trees and planting create a tapestry of green throughout the seasons. 

Peaceful, private and totally tranquil, built-in walk-in wardrobes lead through to a spacious en suite, furnished with both a bath and separate shower.

Garden that gives

Outside, opening directly from the kitchen-dining-living room, step out onto the raised porcelain terrace, where sunken lighting adds an evocative glow after sunset. Wine, dine and unwind, before following the path deeper into the garden.

Immediately outside the home, grow your own in the productive kitchen garden, currently used for herbs, vegetables and ornamental planting, hosting a vibrant display of dahlias, rhubarb, bay, chives and mint. Established borders brim with shrubs and spring bulbs, providing an array of colour and interest throughout the seasons, whilst in late spring, a wisteria-clad pergola infuses the air with fragrance

Pause a while on the central patio, perfectly positioned to soak up the morning sunshine before offering welcome shade through the hottest part of the day, with the sun returning again later in the afternoon.

Beyond, the garden gently narrows to create a series of intimate rooms. A bespoke water feature forms the centrepiece of a peaceful alpine garden, rehoming stone reclaimed from the original rockery. At its finest in May, this secluded corner, complete with its stone Buddha, provides a tranquil spot to sit and read, whilst nearby, a hammock suspended amongst the greenery offers another peaceful place to unwind.

Raised beds, edged by mature shrubs, continue along the length of the garden before leading to a summer house tucked away at the far end. Beyond, discover the practical parts of the garden, furnished with a large tool shed and composting area, cleverly hidden from view.

As dusk falls, subtle lighting transforms the garden once more, with spotlighting illuminating borders, uplighters showcasing two mature trees and fairy lights woven through the pergola to create an enchanting evening atmosphere.

Out and about

Peaceful and private, yet so central for all the locale has to offer, No. 5 sits just a short stroll from one of Holmes Chapel's most vibrant community hubs. Nearby, The Victoria Club brings together the village's cricket and tennis clubs, with the distant ripple of applause following a well-played shot occasionally drifting across the garden on summer afternoons.

Families are well served by all the essentials, with primary and secondary schools, the leisure centre, Tesco Express, Sainsbury's, Morrisons and Asda all within easy reach, alongside an excellent butcher, traditional bakery, post office, wine bar, cafés and a choice of pubs. One local café even transforms into a tasting-menu restaurant on selected evenings, while Holmes Chapel's famous bakery remains a point of pilgrimage for many, once having been the Saturday workplace of a teenage Harry Styles before his rise to fame.

Pull on your walking boots and head north towards the viaduct and the River Dane, or venture south to discover the River Croco, where a network of public footpaths and open fields provide endless opportunities for dog walks and countryside rambles.

Despite its rural-esque setting, Holmes Chapel remains exceptionally well connected with its train station around a ten-minute walk away, the M6 reachable in around five minutes, and Knutsford lying just seven miles to the north, offering a further array of independent shops, restaurants and cafés.

Capturing the convenience of town living with the peace and serenity of a rural retreat, No. 5, The Drive is a spacious, characterful oasis, ideal for every stage of modern family life.

Disclaimer 

The information Storeys of Cheshire has provided is for general informational purposes only and does not form part of any offer or contract. The agent has not tested any equipment or services and cannot verify their working order or suitability. Buyers should consult their solicitor or surveyor for verification. Photographs shown are for illustration purposes only and may not reflect the items included in the property sale. Please note that lifestyle descriptions are provided as a general indication. Regarding planning and building consents, buyers should conduct their own enquiries with the relevant authorities. All measurements are approximate. Properties are offered subject to contract, and neither Storeys of Cheshire nor its employees or associated partners have the authority to provide any representations or warranties.