GUIDE PRICE: £375,000 - £400,000!

Opposite 7.5 acres of exclusive garden enclosures for residents with a tunnel to the beach, this design-led one bed apartment in Kemp’s seafront masterpiece Lewes Crescent is a dream buy or high end investment with glorious sea views, magnificent Regency proportions and skilled interior design. On the cusp of the gracious sweep from the Crescent to Sussex Square, this building was chosen by Thomas Cubitt as his home and it is Grade I listed to acknowledge its classic beauty. Just 10 mins drive from Brighton Station’s direct trains to Gatwick and London and about 7 from the picturesque cultural heart of the city, there are local amenities and the County Hospital is an 8 min walk.

Inside, ceilings soar to almost 3.5m, there is a rare Arts & Crafts fireplace and no expense has been spared in a thorough refurbishment to create a dream coastal home with 68.10m2 (733.02 ft. sq.) of sun-lit rooms in which to spread your wings. Sunshine and sea views stream through the magnificent reception with ample space for entertaining and next door, the custom made, high end kitchen embraces its unique coastal location. The meticulous attention to detail continues in the private double bedroom where precious period detail includes a hatch for a dumb waiter to deliver food to this level -which would have been Cubitt’s morning room- and next door the fantasy has been made real in a luxury bathroom. Historic Kemptown has an al fresco lifestyle and plenty of amenities including a weekly farmer’s market, and the area is well served for green spaces which hold events during our legendary festivals.

Conceived by Thomas Kemp, designed by Busby and Wilds and built by Thomas Cubitt between 1823-1827 as Belgravia by the Sea, Grade I listed Lewes Crescent is recognised as one of the of the UK’s most important Regency treasures and is one of only a few in our coastal city which have private gardens for the residents, and is possibly the only listed Regency, garden development on a south facing seafront.

With an impressive, secure entrance, a Doric porch gives an indication as to the grand proportions within and opens to a stately communal hall where precious period detail includes decorative plaster work above the front door to this ground floor apartment. Inside, this sophisticated re-imagining of a glamorous Regency coastal retreat has created a fantasy home by the sea where historic elegance has been restored to its former glory, then subtly integrated with mood lighting in the high end kitchen and hand crafted storage in the hallway which incorporates a wi-fi hub. Other improvements include upgraded electrical work 2019/20 including power points with usb charger and brushed brass fittings.

Instantly inviting with elegant Regency proportions and two handsome windows to frame the glory of the listed gardens and the sea, the reception spans a generous 5.35m x 3.5m (17’6 x 11’5). An evolving space which has been stylishly refurbished at some point during the Arts & Crafts era and the Deco period, it is a timeless beauty. Stylish Sisal carpet is underfoot, friends can enjoy rare seclusion by a magnificent carved fireplace, and original shutters bring absolute privacy in a city favoured by highfliers at night, as well as peace of mind whilst you are away.

Next door, looking over the verdant gardens to the sea, the solid wood units is a classic, expertly planned kitchen with custom coloured storage and granite surfaces. Top of the range appliances include a Miele touch induction hob and oven beneath a hood, a Bosch microwave at eye level and it is good to go with an integrated dishwasher, washer/drier, fridge and freezer. The butler’s sink is an acknowledgement of the history of the building whilst the discreet top shelf is strengthened and has power for speakers. There is also space to have a small breakfast table and chairs near the window to enjoy the views of the communal gardens and sea.

Central to the apartment, the fabulous bathroom has lofty dimensions, a waterfall shower above the bath, a cabinet beneath the hand basin and a warming rail for towels. By it, with a perfect fusion of Regency romance and contemporary comfort, the principal bedroom is a private, inner sanctum with soft light pouring through the frosted window which almost fills the far wall and restful floorspace of 4.6m x 4.52m (15’1 x 14’1) in which to unwind after a busy day. With calm decoration and floor to ceiling wardrobes it is ready to move into, and it is here that you will find the hatch for the historic dumb waiter tucked away.

Agent says:
“Sussex Square is the Regency jewel in our coastal crown and acknowledged as one of the best in the UK with its Grade I listing. This prime piece of history comes with gated gardens for use of the residents (for a reasonable annual fee) and ground floor apartments in this prime address do not appear on the market often – and sell fast attracting professionals, international investors and families as our air is fresh and our cultural heart chic and inclusive – and now is the time to buy with a new lido and yoga centre on the beach in Kemptown and improvements underway along the seafront.”

What’s around you:
Shops: Local 3 minutes, Georgian Lanes a 20-25 minute walk, 7-10 by cab.
Train Station: Brighton about 15 minutes by bus.
Seafront or Park: The beach is reached through the tunnel in the gated gardens.

Closest schools:
Primary: St Mark’s, Queen’s Park.
Secondary: Varndean or Dorothy Stringer.
Private: Brighton College, Brighton Waldorf School, Roedean, Brighton & Hove High.

In one of Brighton’s most glamorous locations within walking distance of the Marina with its waterfront restaurants, health club, shops and cinemas, this beautiful apartment has use of 7.5 acres of Grade II listed gardens which have a tunnel to the beach said to have inspired the rabbit hole in Lewis Carrol’s ‘Alice through the Looking Glass’. For the exclusive use of the residents of the Kemptown Estate they are not only private and secure, but also a social focal point of a vibrant and inclusive community. There’s a local al fresco lifestyle and a fifteen minute walk (or local bus routes) takes you past the County Hospital and award winning Brighton College into the heart of Kemptown with its fashionable patisseries, bars and restaurants, whilst a scenic 20-25 minute stroll along the seafront or St James’s Street (on the Pride route) – or a 7 minute cab ride- takes you to the picturesque cultural heart of our legendry coastal resort.