Month: November 2015

The Winchester Wine Festival is the brainchild of Peter and Susie Richards who are probably best known for their regular wine slots on BBC1’s Saturday Kitchen. They are also both Masters of Wine – a rare breed, given there are only about 300 in the world – and even rarer for being married to each other!

Wine Festival Winchester, which is being held in the Guildhall over the weekend 27-29 November, is a chance for everyone (no matter how much or little you know) to enjoy a feast of fabulous wines in the company of Susie and Peter.

George Burnand, partner at Strutt & Parker explains: “Strutt & Parker has become involved with the Festival because it encompasses everything that is right about Winchester and we see great similarities with what we both do.

“It is very much a matter of taking what we do seriously but not taking ourselves too seriously and the end product in the case of The Wine Festival is an informative, fun and open to all weekend, tasting hundreds of delicious wines from brilliant Hampshire and Dorset wine producers to prestigious global brands via local wine shops and a wide range of quality wine suppliers.”

In addition to the wine tasting there are many other attractions; there will be a delightful range of local food and free gifts for every visitor. Susie and Peter will not only be on hand to talk about the wines but will also be leading delicious masterclasses featuring cheese, chocolate and plenty of wine.

“In addition to all the above what really resonated with Strutt & Parker was the 2015 choice of charity; Home-Start Winchester and Districts,” continues George.

A prize draw, for which there are some wonderful prizes, will be run through the event, all funds from which will go to this worthy charity which provides friendship and emotional and practical help to parents with young children in and around Winchester.

“Winchester is not only one of the UK’s most beautiful and historic cities but is also fast becoming a national gastronomic capital,” says Elaine French, George’s colleague at Strutt & Parker.

“There will be a broad and exciting range of local wine producers and merchants complementing the UK’s largest farmers’ market and a host of excellent restaurants and food suppliers. The festival also coincides with what is now one of the UK’s renowned Christmas Markets making this the ideal chance to stock up in time for the seasonal festivities.”

For more information go to www.thewinefestival.co.uk or contact Strutt & Parker on 01962 869999.…

Located to the north of Winchester in Micheldever, Highways is a spacious single storey home, well presented and sitting within large gardens and paddock in this rural location.

The property is approached via a gated driveway leading to the front of the property, parking area and garaging. The plot extends to 3.25 acres with a wonderful variety of specimen trees, shrub borders and a fruit orchard with views over its own paddock and countryside beyond.

The layout is versatile and is currently arranged with the entrance hall leading through to an open plan dining hall with the fitted kitchen on one side and double doors to the large sitting room on the other. The sitting room has a feature full width bay window from where stunning views over the garden can be enjoyed. The dining area has French doors to the garden and there is a further relaxing or dining space in the conservatory which is accessed from the kitchen. There is also a utility room with a door to the garden.

Three further rooms are arranged as double bedrooms, one with its own shower room, and another with an adjacent cloakroom. An additional room is currently used as a study but could be another double bedroom.

Outbuildings include two double garages together with a workshop, store, office and kitchen which have potential for an excellent home office.

Connells in Winchester quotes a guide price of £875,000 and welcomes enquiries on 01962 864444.…

This stylish and beautifully presented apartment was built as part of an exclusive scheme in 2007 just off Chilbolton Avenue in Winchester. With spacious accommodation, the apartment has a versatile layout with three good size rooms equally suitable as three bedrooms, or two double bedrooms with a separate dining or sitting room. This is in addition to the wonderful open plan space of the kitchen where there are distinct areas for sofas and dining furniture with the lovely aspect of glazed doors to a private balcony.

There is a smart principal bathroom and one of the double bedrooms has its own shower room.

The apartment may be accessed via the internal lift from the undercroft parking, where there are two designated spaces, or via a stairwell which has a secure entry system.

With lovely views over the well kept communal gardens with lawned areas and mature planting, the apartment also has access to a cycle store and additional storage.

Winkworth in Winchester says the apartment is available from the beginning of December and quotes a monthly rent of £1,475 on an unfurnished basis. Enquiries should be directed to 01962 866777…

As autumn is upon us and winter is fast approaching, now is the time for tenants to consider any works which will need to be undertaken to their rented property to adequately prepare for colder weather. Tara Kelly, head of lettings at Savills Winchester, provides a check list of jobs which tenants should take into consideration in a timely manner:

Gutters and drains

•           Most common tenancy agreements put the responsibility for clearing drains and gutters with the tenant. It is therefore vital that you ensure that these are cleared and free-running throughout the winter period as landlords will be justifiably entitled to claim compensation for any damage done to the house as a result of block drains and gutters.

Holiday periods

•           If you are planning a holiday over the winter period you should ensure that you make adequate arrangements for somebody to check on the house, and make sure that you keep the heating on low to avoid freezing pipes. A landlord could claim from the tenant for costs in the event that damage was to occur.

Bleed radiators

•           A long cold snap will inevitably increase heating bills substantially; therefore you should check that your heating system is working efficiently by regularly bleeding the radiators. If a radiator is cold at the top and hot at the bottom, it will need bleeding, but take care to put down a rag under the radiator to avoid dirty spill or spray damaging the floor.

Find your stopcock

•           Even a small split in a water pipe can cause a huge amount of damage, therefore if you do not know where the main stopcock is you should find it as soon as possible. By quickly switching off the water supply in the event of a leak you could significantly reduce damage.

Check oil/LPG levels

•           The last thing you will need in the depths of winter is an empty oil or LPG tank. Particularly in snowy conditions where fuel deliveries are compromised, you should regularly check the levels and refill well in advance of usual.

Smoke & CO Alarms

•           Smoke and CO alarms should be checked regularly to ensure that they are in working order, do test these alarms and replace batteries where necessary. If any alarm is not working, following replacement batteries, you should contact your landlord or managing agent who will arrange a replacement unit.

Clean chimneys

•           Chimneys should be swept as often as necessary, but at least annually even if the fire is not often used. Blocked flues are not only inefficient; the poor draw of smoke can cause damage to the property as well as health issues. Sweeps are often busy heading into winter so book early.

“Aside from helping to maintain the property, this will help to ensure a tenant remains warm and dry in even the most adverse weather conditions and thereby relieve a lot of the stress and strain in dealing with breakdowns,” said Tara. “Tenants do need to be aware that, under the terms of their tenancy agreement, not all aspects of property maintenance are covered, including the items listed above.”…

Enjoying a quiet courtyard setting off St Peter Street in the heart of Winchester, this lovely home allows for a short walk to the train station or into the High Street in the other direction. The historic centre of Winchester has many attractions with a multitude of places to pause for a coffee, have lunch with friends, enjoy a wide variety of entertainment at theatres and the newly refurbished cinema, together with independent and high street shops, a wide choice of gyms and yet also have access on foot to countryside and riverside walks.

The light-filled accommodation has lovely character and the rooms are spacious with an easy flow on the ground floor through the living space. The kitchen is well fitted and has a place for a dining table in front of French doors at the front with the principal reception room having a similar feature with space for relaxing and dining if this layout is preferred. There is also a ground floor cloakroom.

Three attractive bedrooms are arranged off the first floor landing together with the family bathroom and the largest bedroom also has its own shower room.

A garage is included in the monthly rent of £1,695 and enquiries should be directed to Hamptons International in Winchester on 01962 853046.…

Imagine having a smart Waitrose store as your local shop, together with an array of excellent other shops and amenities just around the corner, in addition to being within a short distance of the train station and Winchester’s city centre.

This is the highly convenient location this five bedroom detached house enjoys at Parkside Gardens, off Dean Lane.

The accommodation has been greatly enhanced by the addition of a fabulous conservatory which is open plan to the kitchen and provides both dining and relaxing areas. The original kitchen still has space for either casual dining or perhaps sofas with three additional good size formal reception rooms providing all the versatility a family could desire. There is also a utility room with a door to the garden and a ground floor cloakroom.

The spacious nature of the house continues upstairs with two lovely bedroom suites, both with plenty of fitted wardrobes, and three further bedrooms sharing the family bathroom.

Outside there is off road parking in front of the detached double garage and the wonderful rear garden extends across the full width of the property and beyond with a glorious backdrop of mature trees and shrubs.

Parkside Gardens is a quiet cul de sac and the house is available on an unfurnished basis at a monthly rent of £2,950. Contact Charters in Winchester for further information on 01962 830880.…