Durrant House, a restored grade II listed guesthouse dating back to 1377 in the East Sussex market town of Rye is now up for sale for £825k.
Steeped in history, the seven double bedroom guesthouse was converted into a hotel in the 1950s after being used to billet soldiers during the Second World War. Prior to that it was used for the ‘education and training of the daughters of gentlemen’ during the ownership of Sir William Durrant in the 18th Century. There is even reputedly a ‘knee bam’ supporting the roof that once belonged to the galleon of the Spanish Armada that was wrecked in Rye bay.
The building consists of a ‘good sized’ dining room, a guest lounge, and a private lounge, and each bedroom comes complete with its own en suite bathroom. The guesthouse currently trades with an ETB 5 Star Accommodation Gold Award, but sale handler Christie and Co believe the property can be easily utilised to develop the business further.
Andrew Bush, from Christie Co’s Maidstone Office, said: “Durrant House is currently run as a lifestyle business and is only run for 45 weeks of the year on a bed and breakfast basis. Therefore, it is felt that there is scope to increase trade and revenue by opening all year round and developing the business, such as providing evening meals, creating a restaurant/function suite or offering a high class tearoom.”
The property also opens out onto a private walled garden with views over Romney Marsh to the sea, and is an area that can also be developed to achieve the maximum potential of the space.
Interested parties should contact the Maidstone office of Christie and Co on 01622 656 000, who are currently accepted freehold offers of £825k or more.