5 bed semi-detached house for sale

Lovers Walk, Brighton, East Sussex BN1

Guide price: £1,150,000--£1,250,000.

Rarely available five bedroom period home.

Large well stocked garden .

Cinema room/home office.

Close to preston park.

Ideal for brighton and preston park mainline railways stations.

Rarely available .

Internal viewings available on request.

A private idyll on a no through lane with free parking and Preston Park’s sports facilities, playgrounds and café at the end of it, this historic, flint faced 4 bedroom house with glorious, scented gardens which wrap to the south is a special find in an area given a top spot in the Times Best Places to Live Guide. One of a pair designed by renowned architect Daniel Friend circa 1876 as part of the Stanford Estate, inside this unique semi-detached property fuses graceful Victorian proportions and precious period features with sophisticated contemporary design to create an exceptionally inviting, comfortable home with an easy social flow, a quiet home office, light and spacious bedrooms which are not overlooked - and a media room. 3 mins drive from the city centre at Preston Circus, and 5-6 from both Preston Park and Brighton Station’s direct trains to Gatwick and London, a good junior and infant school are a 5 min walk and good senior schools and 6th form colleges are within a 5 min drive – walkable or a bus ride for older children.

Offering a sophisticated lifestyle with charm and character, the ground floor has been opened up to create an impressive living dining room with a broad bay looking over the garden and a period fireplace to ensure an inviting welcome. The elegant dining area is open to a classic kitchen, fitted with high-spec appliances and with French doors which lead out to the dining terrace and gardens for al fresco summers. A separate utility room hides the machines away and has a w.c. For visitors, whilst downstairs is all about entertaining friends and family with a hushed media room where the Epson projector and surround sound could stay. Upstairs, all of the bedrooms are restful doubles; The 1st floor guest room is by the luxury bathroom and the spacious principal, scented and screened by the Mirabelle trees outside, is a restful haven. At the top of the house, the third bedroom has picture perfect views to the park, and the 4th, private bedroom has a chic en-suite shower room with underfloor heat.

Homes in this hidden lane don’t come onto the market often and sell fast with parking along the lane and extra space for visitors at the top of discreet steps one door along which rise to the road behind. With local shops nearby, this convenient spot attracts professionals and families with London Road at the bottom of the hill giving easy access to the city centre and its beaches or A23/27, and Dyke Road at the top, which takes you to the 7 Dials and its 7 ways into or out of the city, or to the National Park in minutes.

Style Semi-detached Victorian house by Daniel Friend 1876
Type 4 double beds, 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite) + gf w.c., living dining room, kitchen, utility, media room, home office
Area Preston Park
Floor Area 1735 sq.ft
Outside Space Extensive gardens wrapping to south
Parking Street parking – no permit needed
Council Tax Band D

Why You’ll Like It:
The Victorian Villas on this private lane simply do not appear on the market often. A happy family home for many years, sympathetic improvements to this architectural gem include creating a high end kitchen, installing luxury bathrooms and cast iron radiators, and the painted walls and panelling are in the historic hues of Farrow & Ball.

The Approach and Entrance Hall:
Almost invisible at the end of the leafy, sensor- lit lane behind a front garden full of the joys and scents of spring, broad steps rise beneath orange blossom to reveal this rare, Daniel Friend flint fronted house with fretwork and finials on the gables, and broad bays to bring in the Sussex sunshine. Inside, the light and spacious hall introduces you to the classic tone and private nature of the interiors, where carefully sourced tiles are underfoot for a practical, fuss free flow.

The Ground Floor Living Dining Room, Kitchen and Utility/W.C.:
With the grand proportions of the Victorian era and a view over the glory of the garden through the large bay which bathes the room in sunlight, the elegant living dining room has ample space for family time or to share with company. Solid wood is underfoot, a ceiling rose is high overhead and there’s a handsome fireplace to sit by, which once had a gas connection, now decommissioned.

With ample space for a big family table, the refined dining area has a big sash window to bring the outside in – and although full of light, guests can relax in rare, complete seclusion.
Designed for everyday but also perfect for parties, the kitchen is a classic beauty matching custom coloured hand built units with cool marble surfaces – ideal for making pastry. Opening to the dining terrace for seamless entertaining, built-in high-spec appliances include a Neff touch induction hob and oven beneath a hood, a dishwasher and a carbon-filtered mains water tap. A separate utility room has the same meticulous level of finish, with custom, handmade cupboards, where the utility machines are out of sight and there’s a w.c. And hand basin for guests.

The Lower Floor:
Downstairs has large but discreet storage both under stairs and in a separate, dry-lined walk in cupboard. Quiet and totally private, the media room has ample seating space and the vendors are willing to discuss the screen, Epson projector and 7.1 surround sound system.

The Gardens:
Paradise found, this tranquil idyll is designed to deliver flowers, blossom, fruit and vegetables to the family table (e.g. Plums, apples, French apricots) – and scents the air. The house opens to a broad, wrap around terrace where you can seek respite from the heat of the mid-day sun at the front or dine in the sunshine at the back. On the south side of the house the terrace has space for a table and chairs watching over the large sunny lawn below, which is large enough for ball games and child and pet secure behind historic walls. Surrounded by borders planted for all year interest, mature trees, shrubs and ground cover ensure they are also easy to care for, so you will have more time to enjoy the easy, al fresco lifestyle it delivers. With plenty of leafy nooks and crannies to explore, tucked away there is also a handmade, Malvern 10ft x 6ft potting shed with a shingle roof, locking opening windows, bike storage and a workbench.

The Guest Room, Principal Bedroom, Luxury Bathroom and Study, 1st Floor:
Upstairs, this generous house spreads its wings. Quiet at the back, the first of the bedrooms is a comfortable double with alcoves for wardrobes and calm decoration. Next door, the luxury bathroom has a Victorian influence in the marble floor, roll top bath and high end Burlington fittings, but there is nothing old fashioned about the designer finish, walk in dual head shower, shaving point or warming rail for towels.
Across the hall, the principal bedroom is a serene refuge. Light and spacious with restful proportions, a period fireplace and leafy views it is screened from the no through lane and scented by French Apricot trees, and it is ready to move into with soothing decoration.

At the foot of the stairs to the 2nd floor, a study is bright, cheerful and private within the house.

Two Top Floor Bedrooms and Family Shower Room:
Private and peaceful at the top of the house, two more double bedrooms enjoy space and grace. In the servant’s domain, with plenty of character of their own, at the front the third double room of dual aspect has irresistible views to the park through the large window, whilst a glittering cityscape is framed to the south. Used as a home office it is large enough to share and has under eave storage – although don’t forget there is an attic overhead. Next door, the fourth big double is a private eyrie with open views, and it has an original fireplace and a chic en-suite shower room with a design-led finish, and underfloor heat.

Agent Says:
“This uniquely beautiful home delivers an elegant lifestyle with a restful pace of life where you can enjoy the countryside feel of Lover’s Walk whilst the vibrant shops, restaurants, theatres, cinemas and stations are all within a 5 min drive!”

Owner’s Secret:
“We have enjoyed the peace, privacy and friendly community of this quiet lane whilst having the city and the sea on the doorstep. Keeping the integrity of this beautiful Victorian building was very important to us and we hope that you enjoy the easy flow and high quality finish of our home, which we have loved – it has been a very happy family home with plenty of space to welcome friends and it is absolutely perfect for entertaining young or old, inside or out. Although it feels very quiet and peaceful when you come into Lover’s Walk, the location suits our every day, busy lifestyles with everything we need – including two stations with direct trains to Brighton, Gatwick or London and one serving Falmer, Lewes and beyond, within a short walk or drive. If you’re a couple, there are plenty of local amenities to like the Chimney House or the Crown and Anchor – and the cinemas and restaurants of London Road are easy to get to on foot, by bus or cab. Preston Park at the end of the lane has a readymade community of dog walkers, tennis players and runners who join the Saturday fun runs, and there’s a great café and a playground full of families, too. Thanks to the steps, we can also walk to Dyke Road Park, with tennis, a café and playground as well as an open air theatre, and also to good primary schools.”

Where It Is:
Shops: 5 mins drive to Sainsbury’s Local and cafés, Preston Circus 3 mins drive 10-15 on foot
Train Station: Preston Park and Brighton Stations 5-6 by cab, approx.15 mins walk
Seafront or Park: Park 3 mins walk, Sea about 10-15 min drive

Closest schools:
Primary: Stanford Infant, Stanford Junior
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean, bhasvic
Private: Windlesham Prep, Lancing College Prep, Bilingual, Brighton College, Brighton Girls, Roedean

5-6 mins drive from Preston Park Station with friendly local shops, cafés and bistro pubs in Preston Village, this area has a lovely community feel and the primary and secondary schools, state and private, are good and nearby. Tucked away from the crowds who flock to our famous coastal city, this historic house is between Dyke Road’s Park with tennis courts, open air theatre, playground and café, and Preston Park’s velodrome, sports facilities, fun runs and football clubs. Local bus routes go along both Dyke Road and London Road to the South Downs National Park or the beach, and you can get to the whole of the city including the world class shopping, fashionable bars, lively arts venues and international restaurants of Brighton’s 7 Dials and Queen’s Road, and Hove’s Church Road easily. If you commute by car, both the A23 and A27 are easy to reach.