5 bed semi-detached house for sale

Friar Walk, Brighton, East Sussex BN1

Guide price: £1,000,000--£1,100,000.

Spacious extended family home in quiet residential close..

Sought after surrenden area .

Driveway for two cars and garage.

Landscaped rear garden.

Rarely available.

Internal viewings available on request.

Set in an exclusive, leafy no-through lane close to Varndean schools, this spacious 5-bedroom semi-detached 1930s home enjoys a peaceful setting with far-reaching valley views to the coast. Varndean College Sixth Form, Dorothy Stringer, Varndean High School and Balfour Primary are all within easy walking distance, while the countryside walks, playground and tennis courts of Hollingbury Park are just a five-minute stroll away. Extended and thoughtfully improved, the house offers an excellent balance of generous, sociable spaces for entertaining alongside calm, comfortable family rooms. Elevated above the playing fields, the property benefits from uninterrupted sunlight and magnificent open views from the front. Outside, there is a large garden with a fully powered and heated summer house, ideal for home working or hobbies, as well as a garage and off-street parking. Preston Park station, with direct trains to Gatwick and London, is a five-minute drive away, the historic city centre is around ten minutes, and the seafront approximately fifteen.

Inside, the elegant living room has ample space to share, an open fireplace to ensure a warm welcome and the flow is flawless, inviting guests into a private dining area which opens to an extensive garden which rises through broad tiers to catch the sun. To one side, away from the in/out flow, the kitchen breakfast room is bright and cheerful with a stylish finish, and there’s a separate utility room and a visitor w.c. Tucked away. On the first floor, the family bathroom is large enough for both a bath and separate shower, two bedrooms at the front bring in astonishing coastal views one offering a choice of principal. Two more peaceful rooms look over the garden, and at the top, the 5th, restful double room has fitted wardrobes to fill, views which spill down to the sea and a private en-suite shower room.

Homes in this tranquil enclave between the amenities of historic Preston Village with its famous park and fashionable Fiveways Village – and its 5 ways into or out of the city -simply do not come onto the market often. With local bus routes to give independence from a car, London Road at the bottom of the hill gives easy access to the city centre or A23/27, whilst Ditchling Road at the top takes you to the cultural heart of Brighton and its beaches or to the National Park.

In brief:
Style 1930’s detached house, extended and improved
Type 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms + gf w.c., living room, dining room, kitchen breakfast room, utility
Area Surrenden
Floor Area Please see floor plan
Outside Space Extensive garden with summer house, side gate for deliveries and rear gate to local bus route
Parking Garage, plentiful off street
Council Tax Band F

Introduction:
Quiet but connected, this exclusive, leafy street is tucked away. Expertly brought into the 21st century, all improvements have been unfailingly sympathetic to this elegant property where the sensitive blend of classic proportions and a more modern lifestyle includes double glazing.

The Approach and Entrance Hall:
Set back from the street behind plentiful off street parking with sensor lighting above the garage, this attractive house with Sussex hung tiles between the broad bays and on the gable has a sheltering porch with space for visitor’s coats and bags. Inside, the wide hallway is inviting with a calm colour choice, a roomy under stair cupboard and gleaming maple underfoot.

The Living Room:
Looking south for the sun, unique open views to the sea stream through the stately bay of the beautifully proportioned living room. An elegant space ideal for entertaining as well as for family time, this is a room to enjoy come rain or shine where guests can relax in front of an open, period style fireplace.

The Dining Room, Kitchen Breakfast Room and Utility:
The dining room is a joy to return to, designed for everyday – but also perfect for parties. Twin sets of French doors bring the outside in and the solid maple floor allows an easy flow to the extensive garden. There is plenty of space for a big, sociable table and the high-spec kitchen is safely tucked away from the social flow in its own space – with a view to the garden so you can keep a discreet eye on children, guests or pets. With a custom made breakfast bar where friends can join or homework completed, mix and match coloured units deliver ample storage and the hygienic, Corian surfaces look great but are also family friendly. There’s designated space for a large fridge freezer, plumbing for a dishwasher and good to go, top grade appliances include a Copie 5 ring gas hob beneath a lit hood and a Zanussi grill/combi plus a fan oven at eye level to prevent awkward lifting.

Discreetly tucked away, the large utility room is bright and cheerful with access to the garage, so muddy sports kits/sandy beach towels can go straight from the car into the machine, and there is also a w.c. For guests tucked away.

The Garden and Summer House:
A private paradise, it’s easy to forget that you are just a few minutes from the centre of our vibrant coastal resort when in this spacious garden, expertly landscaped and planted for scent, fruit, all year interest and ease of maintenance so you’ll have more time for fun in the sun. Safe, secure and not really overlooked by neighbours it’s ideal for al fresco summers.

A large, lit terrace is level with the house and has a seating area, a path to the side gate and raised bed for herbs. Central steps rise to a spacious dining terrace, open to the west, where an arch leads to the south facing summer house with heat and power which inspires ideas from reading room/teen den to gym or home office. Its French doors open to a paved patio which looks over a large lawn for play, and tucked away behind the cabin, a pond for pollinators has a water feature and provides a safe haven for frogs and toads. Well stocked beds step up to the rear gate which opens to the quiet street behind which has a bus service into the city, giving independence from the car.

Four 1st Floor Bedrooms and Family Bathroom:
Up past windows, this welcoming home spreads its wings with a bright, spacious landing with a sea view. Convenient at the top of the stairs, the family bathroom has space for both a bathtub with a shower wand as well as a separate, walk in shower with contemporary dual head shower heads. Two windows ensure it is light and airy, and a thoughtful touch includes warming rails for towels.

Next door, with inspiring views over the garden, the first of the bedrooms is quiet, and although used as a home office it does have a fitted wardrobe. Across the hallway, the second bedroom shimmers in designer paper and is a restful double with plenty of floorspace even with a double bed in situ.

At the front of the house, with mesmerising views to open water and the comforting proportions only a 1930’s home can deliver, the third bedroom offers a choice of principal; The broad bay window almost fills the wall to frame the extraordinary setting, there are twin, double wardrobes to fill and it has ample space in which to unwind. Opposite, a big single bedroom would be an ideal nursery or study which looks over a sea of green to the coast.

The Principal Bedroom, En-Suite:
A private eyrie at the top of the house, the principal bedroom spans the whole depth of the original house and embraces its unique, coastal backdrop with a south window to frame the glorious vista and a large Velux at the back to bring in the verdant garden and night sky. With good head height and plenty of floorspace there are two wardrobes built in and the commitment to family comfort continues in the en-suite shower room which has a Triton Riba shower, so water pressure shouldn’t be an issue.

Agent Says:
“There are only a few houses in this secret no through lane close to good schools, so homes here are rare to the market. This beautiful property has plenty of space, a big garden and unique, panoramic views -and it’s also practical with lots of rooms to spread into inside and a garage and generous off street parking outside.”

Owner’s Secret:
“This has been a wonderful, bright family home with the most amazing view and beautiful sunny garden and we shall miss the unique views – and the sunsets. We enjoy being outside and are very sociable, so the layout reflects that, and we love that our teenagers have space on the ground floor to entertain their friends as well as rooms for them to stay over – sometimes in the summer house! The big rooms and level flow on the ground floor are perfect for young children as well as for entertaining. Great for a couple who work from home and like to party, it’s also brilliant if you’re thinking of starting a family with parks and primary, secondary and 6th form schools all within walking distance. This is a wonderful place to live with genuinely friendly neighbours, we have a WhatsApp group and we get together for unofficial parties in the cul de sac occasionally. Everything you need is on your doorstep, whilst the sea and the National Park are both about 10-15 mins away.”

Where it is:
Shops: Woodbourne Store, Café, Post Office and Fiveways Village 2 mins drive, Preston Village (with local Sainsbury’s) 4 mins, city centre at the Level/ foot of North Laine approx. 7-10 mins by cab
Train Station: Preston Park Station 5 mins drive, Brighton 10 by cab
Seafront or Park: Hollingbury Park 5 mins walk, both Blakers and Preston Parks 4 mins drive, sea about 15

Closest schools:
Primary: Balfour, Downs Junior, Downs Infant
Secondary: Varndean, Dorothy Stringer
Sixth Form: Varndean 6th Form, bhasvic, Newman 6th Form College, bimm
Private: Brighton College, Brighton & Hove High, Lancing

Ideal for those needing access to the airports and London as the station to Gatwick and London is a 5 minute drive, (15-20 on foot) Surrenden is a sought after, convenient destination with easy access to friendly cafés, bistro pubs and shops which include a local Sainsbury’s! Surrounded by parks (Preston Park, Hollingbury Park, Blaker’s Park) which have playgrounds, cafes and sports facilities it will be easy to meet people – and parks here host events during our famous festivals, too. Local schools from primary to 6th form are good and within easy distance and the National Park, bordered by beaches is just a short drive. Vibrant arts venues, restaurants and shopping of the city are all quick to get to by bus or by cab and for those with a car, there’s swift access to the A23/A27.