Ceilings soar and sea views abound in this elegant stucco townhouse.
Ceilings soar and sea views abound in this elegant stucco townhouse.
In the heart of Kemp Town, moments from the seafront, this Grade II-listed six-bedroom house occupies a handsome position on Belgrave Place, a refined mid-19th-century terrace. Its interiors are defined by their scale, light, and views of the sea from each floor. Here, historic character and coastal atmosphere come together in a quietly assured way.
Setting the Scene
Belgrave Place is a quiet, self-contained terrace moments from Brighton’s seafront. It was laid out in the 1840s as part of the genteel expansion of Kemp Town, when the city was cementing its reputation as a refined coastal retreat. Its houses were designed with a confident Regency hand - stuccoed elevations, generous sash windows and a sense of proportion speak of elegance and ease.
This home sits comfortably within this composition. Like its neighbours, it has evolved with the city around it, its period bones intact while accommodating the comforts of contemporary life.
The Grand Tour
The building is entered at ground level, where the plan unfolds with a typically Regency sense of balance. Here, the proportions are immediately apparent: tall ceilings, deep skirting boards and vast sash windows that draw in a clean, coastal light.
The kitchen is at the centre, flanked on both sides by bespoke shaker-style joinery topped with oak worktops. A gas-fired Aga range cooker sits at the centre of the old fireplace. A bright WC is along the corridor, which leads to a utility room that opens onto the garden. Yellow joinery runs along one wall, providing ample room for a washing machine and dryer. The storage has been thoughtfully designed for ironing boards, brooms etc and an extensive pantry. There is further storage under the stairs.
On the first floor, the architecture reaches its fullest expression. This is the principal storey, where ceiling heights are at their most generous and windows stretch almost to the floor, framing oblique views towards the sea. The striking drawing room is replete with decorative cornicing and original joinery details, which have been carefully retained. The open fireplace counterbalances the light-filled bay window, and double doors open onto the library. A secluded bedroom/study is at the rear of the plan.
The upper floors have a more intimate character, with a sequence of well-proportioned rooms with a feeling of quiet retreat. The two bedrooms at the front of the plan echo the grand proportions of the drawing room below, each with a broad bay window and fitted storage. On the second floor, the primary bedroom has a spacious en suite with dual sinks, a claw-foot tub and a separate shower. There are three further bright bedrooms at the rear of the plan, each with its own character.
The house will be sold chain-free.
The Great Outdoors
The house opens out to the rear onto a south-east facing walled garden. Secluded and sun-drenched it is planted with a mixture of mature trees and climbers, and a rose rambles across the far corner.
Out and About
Well-located in Kemptown, the house sits on a quiet street that leads to Brighton’s seafront. The area draws all manner of events, from the Mod Weekender to the Brighton Speed Trials, the oldest running motor race.
Nearby Fika does an excellent brunch, and the Bison Beach Bar is perfect for an evening sundowner. The interiors of Café Rust are turned out in collaboration with William Morris Antiques Show for wonderful café fare beneath decadent chandeliers. The Reading Room is an excellent refectory with sea views, and local favourite Marmalade café is less than a 10-minute walk from the house. For shopping, Brighton Flea Market is a cornucopia of vintage treasures. For further amusement, Sea Lanes is an open-air, heated 50m pool, regenerated from the original beachfront. A little further down the coast is Brighton Beach House, a social club owned by Soho House.
A short drive out of the centre of town leads to the South Downs with its abundance of walks across the undulating landscape: a favoured spot is Devil’s Dyke, the elevated position of which provides exceptional views over the English countryside.
Belgrave Place sits in one of Brighton’s most convenient pockets for schooling, with a strong mix of independent and state options. Nearby Brighton College and Roedean School offer established private education, while well-regarded state choices include Varndean School, Dorothy Stringer School, Carlton Hill Primary School, St Nicolas CofE Primary School, Our Lady of Lourdes RC Primary School and Brighton Aldridge Community Academy, all within easy reach.
Brighton’s train station, a 12-minute drive from Belgrave Place, has rapid access to London in just under an hour and Gatwick in 30 minutes. The Southern line leads to London Victoria while the Thameslink line goes through London Bridge, Farringdon, London St Pancras International and northwards to connect to Bedford and Cambridge. Brighton is also excellently situated for road transport: the M23 leads directly to the M25, while the A27 connects to most of the south-eastern coastline, from Hastings to Portsmouth.
Council Tax Band: F
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