The property was built in 1835 by Canon Venables, a church historian and was originally known as Hawthorn Dene. The property later became a private ladies convent and was also used as a sanatorium. It became a hotel in 1955 and is now run as a family guest house with 9 letting rooms and a restaurant and is available with the adjacent Coach House which provides self contained accommodation. The property retains many original period features with the principal rooms providing well proportioned and light, south facing accommodation, mostly with sea views. Set in grounds of about 1 acre, there is a lawned garden to the front of the property with a further raised lawn situated to the rear providing excellent sea views and a cave. The property could either continue to run as a business, taking advantage of the good will already created and the superb position in this sought after, historic village, but could equally provide a superb private house, subject to receiving the necessary consents and carrying out the necessary refurbishment.

Bonchurch is an unspoilt coastal village, largely comprising a range of attractive stone built period houses constructed in the Victorian era for the wealthy gentry who were attracted by the milder climate and excellent sea views. Bonchurch is also famous for its past literary residents, including Dickens, Swinburne, and Shaw. The village occupies a stunning setting with a backdrop of St. Boniface down with wooded slopes running down to the coast where beaches can be found at Horseshoe Bay and Monks Bay. The village provides a shop, post office and blacksmiths as well as the highly regarded Pond Cafe, situated next to the village pond. The surrounding southern coastline of the Island provides some stunning scenery as well as further facilities and restaurants, particularly in the adjacent town of Ventnor, which also has Botanical Gardens. On the north coast of the Island there are a range of frequent car and passenger ferry services to the mainland including the Fishbourne to Portsmouth car ferry, which takes approximately 45 minutes and high speed ferry services from Ryde to Portsmouth and Cowes to Southampton taking between 12 and 25 minutes. Shanklin Railway Station, (about 3 miles) provides a service to Ryde Pier with the high speed ferry leading to onwards connections to London.

ACCOMODATION

Stone steps with a decorative wooden carved canopy above lead up into a timber framed Conservatory/Entrance with tiled flooring, and raised stone planters with mature plants including Jasmine. This conservatory forms a link between the main guest house and the coach house with access to both. Entrance door into the hotel with stained glass panels surrounding.

Reception Hall An impressive entrance and reception area with panelled lower walls, decorative ceiling and built in glasses cupboard. Decorative archway and staircase off to first floor. Herringbone pitch pine flooring, original open fireplace with tiled and timber surround. Door to cellar.

Drawing room A particularly elegant and spacious room with southerly views over the gardens to the English Channel. French doors with original shutters open to the gardens and a covered terrace. There are two original matching fireplaces with tiled inslips and a decorative surround and mantelshelf. There is wood strip flooring and decorative ceiling. Central alcove with built in bench seating providing an outlook over the sea.

Dining room A well proportioned south facing room with deep windows overlooking the gardens and with sea views to the south west. Impressive original fireplace with decorative surround, wooden floor boards and picture rail.

Orangery Largely constructed of a timber frame with full height windows to most of the southern elevation overlooking the garden. The room under went repairs following storm damage and now has a false ceiling, providing a ground floor room with open fireplace and doors to the garden, currently used for storage, with an ornately carved oak staircase leading up to a mezzanine attic store room. This has great potential to recreate the original facing orangery.

Boiler room/Workshop Gas fired Hamworthy boiler with twin hot water tanks and work bench.

Preparation room Stainless steel twin bowl sink unit, further wash hand basin and space for dishwasher. Built in shelving and storage cupboards.

Main Kitchen Fitted with stainless steel sink unit, stainless steel work tops with extensive shelving and a central Island unit with worksurface. Gas fired and electric cookers and extraction system.

Inner hall with coat hooks and storage cupboard. Part glazed door to rear elevation.

Freezer room Original tiled floor, butler sink, tiled walls with space for refrigerators and freezers.

Office with built in shelving.

A staircase leads up to the First Floor which comprises 4 letting bedrooms with en suite facilities.

Bedroom 1 A particularly spacious room with a bay window providing stunning sea views. Built in cupboards. Bathroom en suite with central panelled bath with mixer tap and shower attachment. WC and wash hand basin.

Bedroom 2 A well proportioned room with a bay window providing stunning views. Bathroom en suite Bath, WC and wash hand basin.

Bedroom 3 Twin room with garden views and a bathroom en suite.

Bedroom 4 A large family room with built in cupboards, sea views. A large bathroom en suite with bath, WC and wash hand basin. Sloping ceiling.

Bedroom 5 A single staff room with views over The Coach House to the sea.

Linen room Built in shelving and storage cupboard.

Second Floor

Bedroom 6 A double room with views to the cliff. Used as a staff room.

Study Sea views.

Bedroom 8 A double room with westerly sea views, built in cupboards and bathroom en suite.

Bedroom 9 A twin aspect family room with sea views, built in cupboards and a bathroom en suite.

Bedroom 10 A twin room with panoramic sea views and built in cupboards, bathroom en suite.

Bedroom 11 A single room with views over the garden, shower room en suite.

Bedroom 12 A family room with sea views and bathroom en suite.

Outside
The property is accessed via a tarmaccadam driveway that leads to a turning and parking area adjacent to the entrance where there is space for 10 to 11 cars. Stone steps lead to the front garden which comprises a large level lawn with sea views adjacent to which are various borders and a sunken garden including an ornamental pond surrounded by rockeries. To the southern elevation of the house are two verandahs with glazed roofing and tiled flooring. To the eastern side of the garden is a paved terrace and seating area shaded by a mature beech tree. The path leads around to the rear of the property and up hill to an elevated lawned garden across the rear of the property from which there are sea views and an impressive rock face including a cave. Old stone steps lead up into an area of mature woodland, which extends uphill. Immediately to the rear of the property is a flagstone paved area leading up to the cliff face with stone steps to the garden. Part of this area has been enclosed with corrugated roofing sheets to provide an additional storage area adjacent to which are stone and brick built stores with a vaulted ceiling. A path leads round to the rear of the coach house to the parking area at the front.

The Coach House
The coach house adjoins the main building and offers flexible accommodation arranged over two floors and incorporates a disused indoor swimming pool.

Ground Floor

Living room with bay window and entrance door to Conservatory, this room could be incorporated into the guesthouse. Window and glazed door to rear courtyard. Steps up to landing.

Reception room with a separate entrance door onto the parking area. Cupboard housing gas fired boiler serving The Coach House and with Halogen spotlighting.

Kitchen with a range of matching built in cupboards with worksurfaces and stainless steel sink unit. Space for electric cooker. Halogen spotlighting.

Pool house with sliding patio doors opening to the steps to the front elevation and housing a swimming pool in need of refurbishment.

FIRST FLOOR

Bathroom Bath with mixer tap and shower attachment, WC and wash hand basin. Airing cupboard.

Bedroom 1 A range of built in cupboards, sea views.

Bathroom en suite panelled bath with mixer tap and shower attachment, WC and wash hand basin. Tiled shower cubicle with Redring shower.

Bedroom 2 Double aspect room with sea views and sloping ceiling.

Bedroom 3 Through to the rear elevation with sloping ceiling.

Bedroom 4 High level window onto landing.

Services Mains water, electricity and gas. Private drainage. The main guest house and the Coach House have separate services.

Directions From the A3055 (Leeson Road) take the turning onto Bonchurch Shute. Proceed along Bonchurch Shute and the Bonchurch Manor Hotel is found on the right hand side.

Viewings
Strictly by appointment with the sole agent Christopher Scott.

Christopher Scott,
East Quay, Kite Hill, Wootton Bridge, Isle of Wight, PO33 4LA.
Tel: 01983 242121
Fax: 01983 241111
Website: www.christopherscott.co.uk
Email: sales@christopherscott.co.uk

MISDESCRIPTIONS ACT 1991
Christopher Scott for themselves and the vendor of this property whose agents they are give notice that:
i The particulars are set out as a general outline only for the guidance of intending purchasers and do not constitute, nor constitute part of, an offer or contract.
ii All descriptions, references to condition, necessary permissions for use and occupation and other details are given in good faith and are believed to be correct, but any intending purchaser should not rely on them as statements or representations of fact and must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness and accuracy of each of them.
iii No person in the employment of Christopher Scott has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatever in relation to this property.