* Freehold
* Substantial guesthouse suited to A variety of uses
* Off - road parking including an ev charging point
* Wonderful sea views
* Bordering national trust land
* Sensitvely refurbished & well - maintained
* Beautiful grounds & gardens
A substantial Georgian guesthouse with far - reaching sea views providing a
unique lifestyle business opportunity
Spacious entrance hall | two reception rooms | dining room | conservatory |
kitchen | office | utililty area | wine store | service area and boiler room
galleried landing | housekeepers suite | 14 bedrooms (13 en - suite) |separate
bathroom
spacious self - contained two bedroom apartment with family bathroom | laundry
room | further double bedroom with en - suite | double garage
overall option of 17 bedrooms sleeping 33, 12 off - road parking spaces and
mature gardens & grounds of approx. 1. 35 acres
**The Isle Of Wight & Getting Here**
The Island is 26 miles by 13 miles and only a short sea crossing from the
mainland, providing a safe haven and tranquil environment. The Island has many
attributes such as its slower pace of life, real sense of community and
microclimate (which is particularly enjoyed in Ventnor), yet being within 2
hours of London.
Enjoying charming, unspoilt villages and fine seaside resorts, as well as 57
miles of impressive and varied coastline offering breathtaking scenery and
many safe, sandy beaches making sailing, windsurfing and swimming popular
pursuits, as well as land - based activities such as golf, horse riding and
tennis. With an abundance of outdoor space, there is much wildlife and nature
to be enjoyed, as well as lots of locally grown produce sold in independent
shops and served in the many popular restaurants and cafes. Simply, there is
something for everyone.
Ventnor is a particularly creative town, with many independent artists, makers
and retailers. There are frequent events to be enjoyed from weekly art
classes, seasonal wreath workshops to the annual Ventnor Fringe, one of the
largest festivals celebrating arts and culture on the south coast. With many
ways of crossing The Solent to the Island, it is easily accessible and an
enjoyable journey.
If travelling by car there is a choice of three routes all with frequent
services: Including, Portsmouth to Fishbourne (45 minutes). If travelling on
foot there is a fast and frequent catamaran service from Portsmouth to Ryde
(15 minutes) and a similar service from Southampton to Cowes (23 minutes),
both connecting with regular mainline train services to London Waterloo. There
is also a hovercraft from Southsea to Ryde, taking 10 minutes. To the west of
Bembridge there is a small private aerodrome and Southampton Airport is also
within easy reach, on the mainland.
**The Locality**
Situated in the sought - after coastal town of Ventnor to the south of the
Island in an elevated position, nestled into St Boniface Down. This sheltered
south facing position benefits from an excellent microclimate, with the area
developing popularity in the Victorian era for its fresh, clean air, (with
prevailing winds coming 6000 miles over the Atlantic). Regularly visited by
well - known names such as Charles Dickens, Karl Marx and Thomas Carlisle, many
impressive Victorian villas were built which combined with the natural beauty
of the area and sea views form a delightful setting. Hillside benefits from an
elevated position within the town, from which wonderful southerly views can be
enjoyed over its grounds and far into the English Channel.
The beautiful Botanic Gardens, selection of independent shops and array of
attractive bars and eateries are only a short walk from the property, whilst
Ventnor Beach is also a nearby walk, as well as access to many coastal walks
to further beautiful bays and coves.
**The Property**
Hillside is a landmark period property that exudes charm and dates back to
1800, with the second floor added by John Stirling in around 1843.
Traditionally built with Island stone and a thatched roof, the house is
Listed, Grade II and offers a selection of beautiful rooms with good ceiling
heights, many original features and all principal rooms being south facing,
taking advantage of great natural light and the sea views. Having been
acquired in 2008, the property has been sensitively and extensively
refurbished, (including new flooring, roofing, electrical, heating and
plumbing systems) and has been carefully maintained and has an effortless,
Scandinavian inspired interior.
Named after its position on the hill side of St Boniface Down, the property is
set in grounds of 1. 35 acres, bordering National Trust land to the north,
which includes the largest Holm Oak forest in Northern Europe, and providing
panoramic views to the south the attractive, Victorian town of Ventnor and to
the sea beyond. The attractive grounds include a large south facing terrace,
lawns and mature trees, beyond which a fenced paddock backing onto the
woodland, home to goats, sheep, hens, doves and honeybees.
**The Business**
Hillside has traded as a private guesthouse (by appointment only), the last 14
years, with the current team winning numerous prestigious awards, including
the Good Hotel Guide 2022 Cesar Award.
Hillside is a true gem that offers a unique lifestyle/business balance and a
diverse range of opportunities for a purchaser who can choose a balance to
live and work from a charming and well - located property with a strong track
record and goodwill, all within 1hr 45 minutes of London. There is the option
of an operator taking on the day - to - day functions, details of which (as well
as recent accounts), are available from the selling agents.
Hillside is owned by a company, with a separate operating company running the
business element of the private guesthouse, there is an option to purchase the
shares in this company, which would include goodwill and could be sold as a
going concern, subject to negotiation. Much of the furniture is high calibre
designer pieces and is not included in the sale but some of which can be
available by separate negotiation. Equally the art collection is excluded but
some of which may also be available by separate negotiation.
**Hillside**
**Ground Floor**
An impressive arched stone porch with decorative canopy frames a panelled
front door opening to a spacious entrance hall with a fine period staircase
leading to the first floor and galleried landing. There are two attractive
reception rooms both with oak flooring, one of which has a wood burning stove
and enjoys sea views and opens to the large conservatory.
The conservatory extends across the southern elevation with deep windows
providing distant views over the English Channel and with wide French doors
leading to the adjacent terrace. A dining room provides 30 covers and has wide
openings into the conservatory from which the views can be enjoyed. There is
an office with period fireplace and a ground floor bedroom with deep windows
with stained glass panels with en - suite shower room.
There is a well - appointed, substantial kitchen most of which has original
flagstone flooring with adjacent area with built - in wine storage. Across the
rear of the ground floor is a service passage with external access doors to
either side with utility area, twin boilers and hot water tanks.
**First Floor**
Galleried landing with seating area. 7 double bedrooms, 6 of which have en -
suite shower rooms and a separate bathroom. Office area, with the option of
the Sitting Room/Bedroom and en - suite shower room to become designated
housekeepers accommodation.
**Second Floor**
6 en - suite bedrooms, 3 of which benefit from stunning sea views framed by the
roof thatch.
**The Stables**
A newly built (2011) two storey building adjacent to the main house
comprising:
**Ground Floor. **
Laundry room, further double bedroom with en - suite, and double garage, car
port with ev charging point.
An external wooden staircase leads to a small decked area and access to the:
**First Floor. **
A self - contained apartment, comprising an open - plan kitchenette dining and
seating area, currently laid out with a master bedroom, twin bedroom, family
bathroom and with a spacious hallway (currently with a day bed for the
potential for more guests).
**Outside**
A block paved driveway leads to a parking area adjacent to Hillside, (with
parking for up to 12 cars). Immediately to the south of the property is an
extensive stone paved terrace bordered by stunning white hydrangeas and with
space for an outside seating and dining area. Beyond which are lawns and
various trees and there is a further timber decked terrace providing a great
viewpoint. A walled vegetable and flower garden with boat shed, greenhouse and
timber shed occupies a lower level, adjacent to the tennis courts and this is
available by separate negotiation.
**General Information**
**Fixtures & Fittings**
Furniture and artwork are excluded from the sale, although some may be
available by separate negotiation, please contact the agents for further
information.
**Vat**
If the sale of the property is deemed to be a chargeable supply for VAT
purposes such tax will be payable by the purchaser in addition to the sale
price.
**Non - Domestic Rates**
The property has a current rateable value of £12, 250. Rates payable for
2022/23 are:
Council Tax £1463
Business Rates £254
**Planning**
Hillside is considered a guesthouse by the local authority.
**Services**
Mains water, gas, electricity and drainage. Gas fired central heating via two
boilers and water tanks, set in zones to provide instant hot water.
**Tenure**
Freehold
**Epc**
The property is Listed, Grade II.
**Postcode**
PO38 1DR
**Viewings**
All viewings will be strictly by prior arrangement with the selling agents,
Spence Willard.
**Important Notice**
1\. Particulars: These particulars are not an offer or contract, nor part of
one. You should not rely on statements by Spence Willard in the particulars or
by word of mouth or in writing ('information') as being factually accurate
about the property, its condition or its value. Neither Spence Willard nor any
joint agent has any authority to make any representations about the property,
and accordingly any information given is entirely without responsibility on
the part of the agents, seller(s) or lessor(s). 2. Photos etc: The photographs
show only certain parts of the property as they appeared at the time they were
taken. Areas, measurements and distances given are approximate only. 3.
Regulations etc: Any reference to alterations to, or use of, any part of the
property does not mean that any necessary planning, building regulations or
other consent has been obtained. A buyer or lessee must find out by inspection
or in other ways that these matters have been properly dealt with and that all
information is correct. 4. VAT: The VAT position relating to the property may
change without notice.

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