thewhiteharthotel LEWES •

HISTORIC TOWN CENTRE HOTEL Freehold For Sale Best & Final Offers Friday 15th June 2018 The White Hart Hotel • 55 High Street • Lewes • East Sussex • BN7 1XE thewhiteharthotel LEWES • EAST SUSSEX

HISTORIC TOWN CENTRE HOTEL Freehold For Sale Best & Final Offers Friday 15th June 2018 The White Hart Hotel • 55 High Street • Lewes • East Sussex • BN7 1XE

• Circa 18,000 sq.ft over 5 floors • • Central location opposite Lewes County Law Courts • • Significant local historical interest • • 19 En-suite bedrooms • • Possible alternative uses (STNC) • The White Hart Hotel offers an un-rivalled central Location location within Lewes, directly opposite the County Law Lewes is a vibrant and affluent Market Town Courts on the High Street and just a few yards away from with a thriving year round tourist trade the 1,000 year old Norman Lewes Castle. attracted by the town’s wealth of historic The site has access from both Lewes High Street and buildings and the amenity opportunities Station Street to the east. afforded by the surrounding National Park. The town is internationally renowned for its November 5th Bonfire celebrations. Great travel links Lewes benefits greatly from its proximity to the Travel time from Lewes Mainline Railway Station: cosmopolitan city of & , which lies some 9 miles to the south-west, offering immediate access to regional shopping facilities, two universities and Europe’s To Time largest man made marina. Newhaven is also 8 miles to the south, offering channel ferry links to France. 16 mins (approx) The County Town of Lewes regularly features in the Times Hove Railway Station 23 mins (approx) list of the best places to live in the UK and offers an excellent London Victoria 1 hr 10 mins (approx) range of private and state educational facilities, across all age ranges, including Lewes Old Grammar. 1 hr 30 mins (approx) Lewes, East Sussex Based on data from Experian the three highest Mosaic Gatwick Airport 31 mins (approx) groups are G Domestic Success, B Prestige Positions and C Country Living. The three highest Social Grades are A Distances by road: Lewes falls within the South Downs National Park and B (Higher & intermediate management, admin and and is the Historic County Town of East Sussex, with professional). The population of the area is expected to Brighton Station 11 miles (23 mins approx) change by 5.30 % by 2020. Hove Station 12.3 miles (20 mins approx) a resident population of 17,000 and the Lewes The town has excellent transport links with a direct railway Gatwick Airport 32.9 miles (34 mins approx) District having a population of just over 100,000. line to London Victoria (just over 1 hour). Lewes is situated at the intersection of the A27 east-west trunk road and the A26 north-south Uckfield to Newhaven road network. THE WHITE HART HOTEL LEWES THE WHITE HART HOTEL LEWES Two of the Pelham sons became British Russia and Britain seal historic Diplomatic Prime Minister Relation agreement in the Sheriff’s Room

• Henry Pelham held office from 1743-54 and his brother • In 1929 an historic meeting took place between Britain’s Thomas Pelham, the 1st Duke of Newcastle, held office Home Secretary, Mr Henderson, and Mr Dovgalevsky, from 1757-62 . Their Father was the 1st Baron of Soviet Ambassador to Russia in Paris, not at the Foreign Laughton and there was a strong presence of Pelhams Office, but at the White Hart Hotel, Lewes. This meeting in Parliament for many years. culminated in the resumption in diplomatic relations • While in Prime Ministerial office, they brought many bills between the two powers. through Parliament that have repercussions even today. These bills include the reorganisation of the calendar to • Remarkably, the Prime Minister of the day, Stanley make January 1st New Years Day along with the age of Baldwin, demonstrated his personal acquaintance with consent for marriage. the Hotel in his speech in the House of Commons on Nov 5th 1929 about this historic event: Other historical details “It so happens that in the old days I used to know the White Hart at Lewes very well and those whom it may • The hotel’s current wine cellar has stone vaulted ceilings, indicating a somewhat different previous use. This interest I may say that you get the best ale there.” underground space was once used for nefarious practices and has been referred to as the ‘martyr dungeon’ where 7 Present day history of the martyrs were shackled before the largest ever burning at the stake was witnessed in Lewes 1555-1557. • To this day, The Hotel frequently hosts world famous personalities and high profile politicians and nobility. It is • The White Hart became a very important Coaching Inn, breaking the journey from London to the South Coast. also a very familiar sight on TV screens as many press Affluent passengers would take refreshment in the Inn conferences are held in the Sheriff’s room after notorious AN ICONIC HOTEL IN HISTORY whilst the horsemen would secure their horse and and often scandalous trials draw to conclusion in the FROM MEDIEVAL TO carriage in the courtyard and take an ale in the County Court opposite. It is a typical sight to see court THE PRESENT DAY adjacent , “Shades” (not being allowed in the Inn Judges and barristers fully robed in their wigs nipping with their distinguished customers). across the street from the court into the White Hart. The Hotel, which dates back to 1426, is rich • Celebrated 18th century chef, William Verrall, (an early with Tudor features including medieval oak • The current owner maintains ago old Boxing Day tradition ’celebrity chef’ with published recipe books) ran the panelling and Tudor oak beams. Other as Master of the House serving the Stirrup Cup to the 140 hotel from 1737-1760. features include ancient stone and timber huntsmen meeting at the hotel on the High Street while detail, original medieval open log fireplaces • The Assizes courts Quarter sessions for the East of the Master of the Hunt makes his proclamation from the and oak floor boards. It was given a Georgian England were held in the Sheriff's Room in 1760 whilst hotel balcony to the thousands of citizens gathered façade in the 19th Century. the new Town Hall was constructed opposite. population of the Colonies was 2.5 million, so about 20 below, an event frequently covered by the BBC. At nearly 18,000 sq.ft and in the centre of a very percent of colonists owned a copy of the revolutionary • From 1761 the nominations of Parliamentary important County Town in Southern England near booklet. This was a sensational circulation in the 18th representatives would take place at the hotel. • The Hotel finds itself at the centre of the magnificent London, the hotel has been a very prominent focal point Century, hundreds of years before the electronic age of Bonfire Celebrations every November 5th on ‘Guy • From 1775 to the present day, the colourful ceremonial High throughout history. marketing. Fawkes’ night, the largest such celebrations in the Sheriff of Sussex would entertain the Lord Lieutenant and world. Typically, 80,000 people gather in Lewes to Below are listed some important points which highlight • An historic copy of the Declaration of American all the judges, which gave the Oak Panelled suite on the 1st witness the spectacle of this evening with around 1,000 the hotel’s significance throughout history. Independence hangs on the panelled wall to this day. Floor its name ‘The Sheriff’s Room’. local people participating in the colourful costumed Thomas Paine & American Independence • The Sherriff’s Room, with its original oak panelling, has • On 5th April 1880, The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) parade. Burning barrels, flaming torches and deafening changed little since one of the “Founding Fathers’“ • In 1768, one of the principal figures in American History, lavishly entertained a party of French noblemen at The words resounded in these ancient walls. noises set the scene around the cobbled streets of Thomas Paine, began forging his radical policies in the White Hart, perhaps to re-establish a little ‘entente Lewes, all culminating at midnight at the White Hart Sheriff’s Room at the White Hart which led to the cordiale’ following the humiliating display in 1816 when Hotel with the bonfire prayers and the bonfire boys American Revolution and struggle for independence. The Powerful & Wealthy Pelham family the courtyard of the hotel was filled with captured ‘booty’ Paine had a claim to the title: owned & lived in the White Hart Hotel from the Battle of Waterloo for Lewes folk to gloat over! leaping through flames on the High Street. “The Father of the American Revolution” • For many years, long before it became a Hotel, the • The star attraction in the courtyard was Napoleon • The ‘Parliament Clock’ can be seen in the lounge of the White Hart was the home of the Pelham Family. Thomas Bonaparte’s celebrated and highly curious military hotel, the history and name of which derive from the • English Heritage have justifiably awarded the White Pelham had his initials emblazoned on the impressive carriage and its valuable contents, sent to the Prince ‘clock tax’ of 1797. In order to save tax, citizens disposed Hart Hotel the coveted blue plaque, which is mounted Tudor fireplace, contrary to many customers' Regent by Marshal Blucher. This Carriage was on the entrance, crediting the hotel with the title: of their timepieces and relied on public time displays. auctioned off to raise funds for the British war effort. assumption that they are the initials of Thomas Paine, The White Hart shows a rare lasting example of this. “Cradle of American Independence” and remain there to be seen today. • World respected writer of the ‘Bloomsbury Group’, • To this day the White Hart Hotel is the place of choice • This culminated in authoring the acclaimed ‘Common • When John Cresset Pelham passed away, Henry Virginia Woolf, whose life was depicted in the Academy for hosting major local events, an example including the Sense’, the most widely read work on the subject of Pelham eventually sold the hotel in 1840 to the Marquis Award nominated movie ‘The Hours’, bought Monk’s American Independence. Common Sense sold 120,000 of Abergavenny. The rich oak carved Abergavenny House in 1919 at a sensational public auction, which Public Enquiry to establish the formation of the South copies in its first three months, and by the end of the Arms now adorn the principal fire place in the front generated huge press interest, and which took place at Downs Britain's newest National Park which looks to Revolution, 500,000 copies were sold. The estimated lounge of the hotel. the White Hart Hotel. Lewes as its principle town. EXISITING LOWER GROUND FLOOR PLAN EXISITING GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Note: All boundaries are approximate and plans are not to scale Note: All boundaries are approximate and plans are not to scale EXISITING FIRST FLOOR PLAN EXISITING SECOND FLOOR PLAN

EXISITING THIRD FLOOR PLAN

Floor Areas Sq Meters Sq Feet Lower Ground Floor 206 sqm 2,217 sqft Ground Floor 581 sqm 6,253 sqft First Floor 414 sqm 4,456 sqft Second Floor 355 sqm 3,821 sqft Third Floor 97.75 sqm 1,032 sqft TOTAL 1,651 sqm 17,780 sqft

Note: All boundaries are approximate and plans are not to scale Note: All boundaries are approximate and plans are not to scale The Opportunity Tenure - Freehold. EPC - Not required since property is Grade II listed. The White Hart Hotel is a Grade II listed four storey traditional coaching inn. The property extends to 19 Guide price - Guide price upon application. en-suite bedrooms, many of which include historic Tudor beam features. The hotel itself has an array Method of sale of antique paneling, Tudor beams, open log fire The site is offered for sale by informal tender (unless sold places, together with the historic Sherriff's Room. prior). Offers are sought upon an unconditional basis only. The hotel also features extensive commercial kitchens Please note that the vendor reserves the right not to with walk in freezers, prep kitchen, pastry kitchen, open accept the highest or any offer, withdraw the sale from A La Carte kitchen and satellite kitchen for the Sherriff’s the market or to alter the method of sale at any time. room banqueting suite. The deadline for offers is: Further features include original stone vaulted wine 5pm Friday 15th June, 2018. cellars which have potential to be converted into a cellar bar or similar facility. Offers should be marked ‘White Hart Hotel, Lewes Offer’ The hotel has been in the same ownership for and be addressed to: Mr C. Oakley MRICS approximately 30 years and has been highly successful and Oakley Commercial, 23 & 24 Marlborough Place, profitable during that time. The opportunity now exists for a Brighton, BN1 1UB new owner to take the property forward and transform it into a boutique hotel or other concepts (STNC). Interested parties are required to provide background information on how the purchase will be funded and The red line on the floorplans clearly show the demise of provide a set timetable for exchange of contracts and the building available for purchase. Areas outside of this completion of the purchase. demise will be retained for future development and any demolition will provide a separation of the two buildings. The hotel will be sold with the benefit of the separation Viewings works being completed (in terms of the structure and Viewings are strictly by appointment by sole selling services). The hotel sale will also benefit from rights of way agents. Please note that this is a confidential sale and being provided for both fire escapes and access to rear the staff are unaware at this stage. Please contact: parking for 6 cars or an amenity area. Leigh Doherty Some external areas may be available together with floor T: 01273 627411 Email: [email protected] plans (further details upon request). Steven Harvey The property also lends itself to a variety of other trading T: 01273 645772 Email: [email protected] uses or possibly residential development. thewhiteharthotel LEWES • EAST SUSSEX

A40M LONDON M4 M25

M25 M2 M25 M3 Maidstone M20 Guildford A24 M23 Tunbridge Wells A3 A22 A26 A24 Horsham A23 Haywards Heath A272 A272 Uckfield Burgess Hill WHITE HART HOTEL

A31 Southampton M27 Chichester A27 LEWES A27 Hastings Littlehampton Worthing Newhaven Brighton Seaford Portsmouth Eastbourne

Isle of Wight

The White Hart Hotel • 55 High Street • Lewes • East Sussex • BN7 1XE

Oakley Property Leigh Doherty Steven Harvey 23 & 24 Marlborough Place, Brighton Tel 01273 627411 Tel 01273 645772 East Sussex, BN1 1UB Tel 01273 688882 Email [email protected] Email [email protected] oakleyproperty.com

Please Note: These details have been produced in good faith and are believed to be accurate based upon the information supplied but they are not intended to form part of a contract. All statements contained in these particulars as to this property are made without responsibility on the part of Oakley or the vendors or lessors. None of the statements contained in these particulars as to this property are to be relied on as statements or representations of fact. Any intending purchasers must satisfy themselves by inspection or otherwise as to the correctness of each of the statements contained in these particulars. The vendors do not make or give and neither Oakley nor any person in their employment has any authority to make or give any representation or warranty whatsoever in relation to this property.

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