10 Ensuite Bedroom Windmill Guest House In Rye For Sale

Business description

Outstanding Grade II Listed Windmill with 10 en-suite bedrooms, plus owners self-contained separate home with garage, large reception room, huge bedroom (could be 2), dressing room, large en-suite & small garden. Windmill guest house has reception, guest lounge/conference room, dining/breakfast room, 2 cloakrooms, kitchen & private parking for several vehicles. Superb riverside location in this highly sought-after all year tourist Cinque Port town and benefitting from widespread views. T/O in excess of £150,000pa!. Fantastic lifestyle business.

Property information

Property:

Freehold

Living accommodation:

The current owners' accommodation is self contained and separate from the windmill in a recently erected two storey ‘sussex’ styled building incorporating a single garage that is in keeping with the Windmill itself. On the ground floor there is an entrance hall with three large storage cupboards and further small study area, leading to an open-plan reception room measuring approximately 18' 6 x 12'10 with floor laid to ceramic tile. This is currently used as a lounge/dining room/kitchen with fitted kitchen along one side and corner, equipped with attractive white wooden units with wood worktops and sink, etc and space for a dining table. This room is also used for the laundry and is therefore also equipped with 2 washing machines, a tumble dryer and press. Double glazed doors lead out to a small private garden with decking area fenced off from the courtyard car park. To the side there is space for rubbish bins. On the upper floor there is a very large double bedroom measuring approximately 19' x 18'6 with en suite dressing room and further large shower room with ½ tiled walls, recessed lighting, tiled floor, double shower, low level WC and wash hand basin. It is envisaged that for those that require larger living accommodation, that the garage could easily be sectioned off to provide an additional ground floor room and still retain some storage, and because the the bedroom upstairs is very large and has double aspect windows, it could also be divided to provide 2 bedrooms, if prefered. The bedroom also provides access to large loft storage above.

Location:

This outstanding bed and breakfast business occupies one of the most famous landmarks in the beautiful ancient town and Cinque Port of Rye in East Sussex. The Grade II listed windmill stands on the banks of the River Tillingham within a two minute walk from the town and enjoys exceptional views over the town itself as well as the coastal plains of East Sussex coast.

Characterized by its cobbled streets, medieval fortifications and historic buildings Rye attracts visitors all year round from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas, particularly North America and the Far East. As well as its tourist attractions Rye has a good range of shops and is the commercial centre for the surrounding villages with an active local community.

The town also serves as a convenient base from which to explore the surrounding area with its many attractions including the famous castles of Hever, Bodiam, Leeds and Herstmonceux, the sunnings gardens of Sissinghurst, Great Dixter and Scotney Castle, as well as wildlife reserves and sandy beaches all within easy reach. In addition the area attracts a number of interest groups such as cyclists, ramblers, bird-watchers and golfers.

Rye enjoys good road links to Hastings, Eastbourne and Brighton to the west, and train services to Ashford with connections for London, Paris and Brussels via Eurostar. An improved service from Ashford to London St Pancras due to commence in December 2009 will reduce the journey time to 37 minutes. The M20 may be joined at Ashford via the improved A2070 and A259.

Premises details:

The distinctive and famous Rye Mill is a grade-two listed building and has been the inspiration for artists and photographers throughout the centuries. It occupies an historic site in Gibbet's Marsh where a windmill has stood, in one form or another, since at least the sixteenth century.

The first recorded owner of a Rye Mill was Thomas Chatterton who built a 'post mill' in 1758. After his death his widow, Mary, passed it on to a Frederick Barry who demolished the 'post mill' in 1820 to erect a 'Smock Mill', similar to the one we see today. Milling continued until 1912 when the premises became a bakery, until a fire in 1930 destroyed the wooden structure of the mill, leaving just the two story brick base. The mill was reconstructed in 1932 and it continued as a bakery until 1976 and then a pottery until 1984 when it first became a Guest House.

The Exterior
The property today comprises the Grade II listed smock mill with tarred brick ground and first floor octagonal elevations beneath white painted weatherboarding above with a wide wooden stage at second floor level, sash windows, four-shaft windmill sails and fantail wheel. The main guest accommodation is contained in a modern extension of two storeys while the ancilliary rooms are housed in a single storey attachment of brick construction. More recently a separate building has been constructed to provide private owners' accommodation including a garage and small garden with decking, shed and area for bin storage.

The Interior - Ground Floor
Entrance to the building is via glazed double doors into a reception area with tiled floor, matchboard panelling and exposed brick walls forming the base of the windmill. There is an intercom system with the owners' annexe and keyless entry security door activated by keyfobs provided to the guests. At the rear there are two WC/washrooms one of which is equipped for disabled use.

This leads to the Dining/Breakfast Room an attractive beamed split level room with exposed studwork and floorboards and feature brick fireplace at the far end. A section of the raised area is set aside as a guest lounge, while there is seating for 20 covers at pine tables with pine dressers and a fridge used as an honesty bar.

A door leads to the ground floor of the windmill, latterly used as the bakery and retaining two cast iron oven doors as an attractive feature as well as exposed brickwork. The room has been recently updated with halogen downlighters, wall-mounted flat screen TV and electrical points to enable combined use as a guest lounge and as a conference/meeting venue.

Also leading off the reception area is the Kitchen with fitted shaker style base units and work tops and equipped with 6-burner range, stainless steel wall cladding, Lincat salamander grill, 2 x microwave ovens, dishwasher, wash-up sink, 6-slice toaster etc.

A corridor leading from the reception area provides access to 4 guest rooms each with generously proportioned en-suite shower rooms. Most rooms are equipped with 'zip & link' beds enabling flexibility to arrange the room for double or twin occupation. All have flat screen TVs with Sky digital service, hospitality trays and are decorated in a bright contemporary style. At the end of the corridor is a fire escape.

First Floor
Stairs lead to a landing with large storage cupboards and access to under eaves storage. There is a shower room with WC for owners and staff use. A corridor leads to an accommodation wing matching that on the ground floor. Here the 4 rooms have been updated more recently and benefit from enhanced views over the river and surrounding fields.

A doorway from the landing leads into the windmill and the Four Poster Room, recently upgraded to provide a stunning room of great character with exposed brickwork, period four poster bed and bedroom furniture and 32" flat screen TV. There is also space for a second bed enabling this beautiful room to function as both a honeymoon suite and a family room. Glazed double doors and ornamental balcony provide views over the town. The en-suite shower room has been newly installed in contemporary style with walk-in double shower and luxury fittings.

Second Floor
Stairs in the body of the windmill lead up to the newly remodelled Windmill Suite arranged over two floors providing spectacular views over the town and surrounding countryside. The bedroom has been renovated to a high standard and includes a Super-king sleigh bed. There is also a lounge area with leather tub chairs and a 32" flat screen television, while a door gives access to the balcony stretching round the outside of the windmill with 360 degree views. The bathroom is accessed via a stunning spiral staircase and contains a luxury walk-in power shower, 'His and Hers' sinks and a free-standing roll-top bath. Being the highest point in the windmill the finest views may be seen while soaking in the bath!

Outside
The property is reached via a tarmac approach road off the main highway leading to a gravel parking area with space for approximately 12 vehicles - a rare commodity in Rye.

Business Operation

Reasons for selling:

Retirement

Years established:

Many years