Location

Hops House is situated in a rural position almost equidistant between the villages of Bolney and Ansty. Bolney has a primary school, two service stations with shops, and a public house (The Bolney Stage) with a popular restaurant.
Cuckfield is three miles distant and offers a range of boutique and independent shops. Further shopping is available at Haywards Heath five miles, Horsham 11 miles and Brighton 13 miles.

Leisure: golf at Mannings Heath, Mid Sussex and Piltdown, and many other courses across the county. Racing at Goodwood, Lingfield and Pyecombe, and sailing at Ardingly and the coast. There are many footpaths and bridle paths across the South Downs and surrounding countryside, as well as riding on Ashdown Forest (by permit) and show jumping at Hickstead. Spas, country clubs and country house hotels include Wickwoods, Ockenden Manor, South Lodge, Alexander House and Gravetye Manor. The market town of Horsham and the City of Brighton and Hove offer theatres, cinemas, shopping and restaurants, and there is the world renowned Opera House at Glyndebourne.

Transport: Haywards Heath has direct services to London Bridge/ Victoria/ St. Pancras International, journey time from 42 minutes. The A24 and A/M23 provides access to the south coast and connections to Gatwick airport, the M25 and national motorway network.

Schools: Warden Park Secondary Academy, Cumnor House, Great Walstead, Ardingly College, Hurstpierpoint College, Brighton College, Burgess Hill Girls, Handcross Park, Worth School and Christ's Hospital.

All distances and journey times are approximate.

Description

Hops House is an elegant Georgian property, originally dating from the 1830s and believed to have been the brewery to the neighbouring property, which was formerly a public house.

Its front elevation is that of a classic country house, with superb red brick, partially tile hung front elevations; in 2022 it was extensively remodelled, with the addition of an architecturally striking geometric extension to the rear, creating a contemporary kitchen, dining and family room. At the same the time, the basement was deepened to add a fully fitted cinema complete with a bar and serving area and the grand entrance has been enhanced by a Georgian-style pillared portico.

The floorplan offers a comprehensive overview of the full layout; the accommodation has been cleverly arranged, with the original reception rooms opened up, offering an elegant and comfortable space to unwind and relax. This is counterpointed by the stunning open plan kitchen/dining/family room, offering a superb space for entertaining, fitted with Sonos sound system and controlled underfloor heating, a striking triangular stepped roof light, a polished concrete floor and a fireplace with a stone hearth encrusted with fossilised shells and plenty of space for a dining table and sofas.

The kitchen is beautifully equipped with wood fronted units and exquisite Calacatta marble worktops. Miele appliances include an induction hob, a pair of ovens, and a dishwasher; there is a full height Fisher & Paykel fridge/freezer. There is an adjoining pantry, and behind the kitchen lies a utility room with two Miele washing machines and two Miele tumble dryers, a boot room and a cloakroom.

On the lower ground floor is a cinema room, with Dolby surround sound, tiered seating and a bar/kitchenette, and a wine cellar.

On the first floor are six bedrooms. The principal suite occupies the northern end, with a luxury en suite with free stand bath, walk-in shower and pair of basins. The adjacent bedroom offers potential to be used as a dressing room, if required.
There are four further bedrooms, one with a free standing bathtub, and the accommodation is completed by a family bathroom with walk in shower and a further shower room.


Outside Hops House is approached from Stairbridge Lane via electronically operated double gates mounted on brick pillars, which open to a gravelled driveway and parking area ahead of the integral double garage and the lawn. At the rear of the house, the stone flagged terrace is accessed via sliding doors, creating an excellent space for entertaining. The lawn extends away from the property, bounded by mature trees and hedging and a gate leads through a mature beech hedge to the swimming pool garden. The pool is heated by an air-source heat pump.

Beyond the swimming pool, screened by tall coniferous hedging, is an all-weather tennis court (renovated in 2022), and beyond this lies the post and rail fenced paddock land.

There are a number of former stables requiring significant renovation. They have the benefit of full planning permission to create a garden house incidental to the enjoyment of the existing dwelling and comprising pool lounge, gym, office, playroom, pool changing room and WC.

The woodland, known as Beershop Wood, is classed as Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland in the Ancient Woodland Inventory for West Sussex. The wood is bounded by hedging and is heavily covered with bluebells, wood anemones, foxgloves and violets and contains coppiced hazel, oaks, silver birches and sweet chestnuts and an abundance of wildlife.


In all, about 7.37 acres.

Directions

From Haywards Heath take the A272 west through Ansty, after 1.3 miles turn left into Stairbridge Lane. Hops House is on the right, after about 0.2 of a mile.