If your dream is to have a ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to change your lifestyle, then look no further than stunning Vernon Cottage at the top of lovely Old Shanklin Village. Here you can carry on a highly successful business and, at the same time, live in one of the most beautiful, thatched properties on the Isle of Wight. This ‘chocolate box’ property includes an award-winning tea rooms and restaurant, famous for the current owners’ unique ‘Isle of Wight Shaped Scones’ and signature ‘Old Shanklin Pie.’ It also incorporates a pretty gift shop/tourist information centre and has the accolade of winning the ‘Best Commercial Garden on the Isle of Wight’ for its gorgeous sunny tea and beer gardens, with glorious planting, two covered ponds, private areas and extensive lawns seating more than 170 people - even with social distancing!
The delightful, spacious four bedroom accommodation is sunny, light and airy and perfect for the owners to live the dream. Originally built in 1817 by talented artist and lawyer Edward Vernon Utterson, the cottage is steeped in history from its days as a smuggling centre with a tunnel that runs under the building to Shanklin Chine. It has far-reaching views from every room.
The extensive cottage has three inviting picturesque entrances, including one from the Old Village car park and coach park and it is also adjacent to the two Village bus stops, so it is the first place many visitors see when they arrive in the quintessential English village of Old Shanklin. From the full sun all-day Award-winning gardens, the attractive front door and French doors lead guests inside to the two charming tearooms/restaurant. These delightful bright rooms include diamond leaded light windows and attractive period fireplaces with views over the sunny gardens and hills beyond. There are appropriate cloakroom facilities, including a stylish new Ladies cloakroom, a large, separate washing-up room, prep room and storeroom plus beer cellar, as well as a superb spacious professional kitchen with recently installed equipment including ovens, under counter fridge units and stainless-steel work surfaces where you can create some mouth-watering dishes and cakes! The large gift shop with its prestigious ‘Beautiful South’ Award-winning Tourist Information centre is very popular among tourists and currently stocks Vernon Cottage homemade produce and unusual gifts. The beautiful gardens include cosy heated covered garden arbours, terraces, extensive lawns and mature trees, shrubs, two ponds and colourful, scented flowers. Another eye-catching feature are three unique wrought iron Penny Farthing bicycle stands designed by the current owners (with electric charging points) which have become an Old Village photo opportunity!
Upstairs you will find a light and bright characterful apartment flooded with sunlight that starts at a charming landing with arched and diamond pane windows with original stained glass inset. This leads to the contemporary family bathroom with its separate shower and stand-alone bath together with four bedrooms. One of these is a single that could also make an excellent study or nursery and three of these are doubles including the main bedroom with fitted wardrobe. There is a new, bespoke fitted kitchen with granite worktops and larder plus an exquisite bay window. The superb lounge/dining room with its exposed beams, bay windows and delightful fireplace is a lovely relaxing space to enjoy the tranquil afternoon and evening sunshine.
What the owners say:
We came across Vernon Cottage by chance 12 years ago when we were sitting in the adjacent car park and someone said it might be for sale, so we decided to take a look. The minute we were inside we felt it was the place for us and would be the opportunity to start a new life, a new adventure. Since moving here we have transformed the property and uncovered and restored all the original features including the two exquisite fireplaces in the tearooms. The property has also been re-thatched, rewired, repainted and has a new boiler and radiators plus total redecoration and restoration inside. We discovered a ‘secret room’ upstairs accessed from a hatch in the lounge where we found old pictures and photos including a framed picture of the house circa 1831, about 14 years after the cottage was built.
We have been so proud to build up an excellent thriving tearoom and restaurant business with unique scones and dishes, restore and replant the gardens and establish an Award-winning private Tourist Information centre. However, we feel it is now time to retire and move nearer to our children and pass the baton onto new owners who can enjoy this wonderful lifestyle and beautiful home.
Shanklin is a delightful seaside resort including the impressive Shanklin beach which won the Beach of the Year Award in the Countryfile Magazine in 2019. The Old Village is charming with its thatched cottages, independent shops, restaurants and pubs, including iconic Vernon Cottage, while the nearby Shanklin Theatre provides a variety of professional and popular amateur shows for daytime and evening entertainment. There is a real feeling of community and if you enjoy the ‘great outdoors’ there are stunning seaside or countryside walks in every direction. Old Shanklin is also lucky to be directly linked to Ryde pier head with the only rail link on the Island which is a huge advantage to both residents, businesses and visitors alike. You will also find good infant nurseries in the vicinity as well as two good primary schools and the highly acclaimed private Ryde School with Upper Chine is within easy reach.
Vernon Cottage is currently run as a Summer Season business with an impressive annual turnover and Net Profit which allow the owners the lifestyle choice to close from October to April. With its large garden, the business has also shown itself to be pandemic proof during the summer months - and the boom in staycations, which look set to stay, have even further enhanced trade. The new owners can choose the times and months they wish to open, with plenty of opportunity for further expansion, evening hours and currently an unused plot of land. The Gift Shop also lends itself to a huge variety of business ideas in addition to the Tourist Information, Gifts and Produce and is also licensed for Alcohol sales and takeaway. Vernon Cottage offers the buyer an ultimate lifestyle option and choice.