Large Group Accommodation at Ballarat House
Spacious Seaside House for Friends and Family Getaways
Sleeps up to 10 guests
Enjoy a spacious coastal retreat in Margate with family and friends:
Ballarat House is brilliantly placed to visit Margate Old Town, Cliftonville and the beach.
Lovingly renovated with quirky, colourful decor, 10 beds, 3 bathrooms, 2 living spaces with woodburners, walled garden with gas BBQ & views over the iconic Lido sign on the seafront.
Sleep in one of our colourful bedrooms on comfortable beds snuggled in hotel quality linen with plenty of throws. Choose from three bathrooms, ensuring there’s never a big queue to wash.
Cook your breakfast on the range in the fully equipped kitchen and sit at the large wooden table or on the comfy sofas to catch up with your loved ones before heading out for the day.
Walk a few minutes to the coast in the morning to grab a speciality coffee at Forts Cafe, then peruse the The Lido Store art gallery and boutique, check out the famous Haeckels skincare store. When evening comes you can hang out in the infamous late night hangout Bar Nothing, then be home within moments.
Walk the other way up the road and saunter along Northdown Road for a taste of Cliftonville. Visit Cliffs for a stellar breakfast experience, grab a nutritious snack at The Grain Grocer, or check out the family run Batchelor’s Patisserie for amazing cakes and Skinny Dip for bespoke Bodega sandwiches with coffee.
If you like art why not take in the latest exhibition at Turner Contemporary on your way into town, then peruse the art galleries in the Old Town, sandwiched between independent boutiques and vintage stores. Eat out at one of the many outstanding restaurants in both Margate and Cliftonville, then spend the evening at
When you get home snuggle up in front of the woodburner in the cozy living room and watch Netflix or play some of our board games. The kids can watch their own programmes in the separate living room downstairs (with own kitchen). Or stay in for the evening and enjoy a BBQ under the pergola in the secluded walled garden, surrounded by greenery.
Here’s what you will find...
Entrance:
Grand monochrome geometric tiled steps lead up to the original front door, bordered with box plants, now painted aubergine and adorned with brass hardware including a retro modernist seagull door knocker.
A local sign artist has reinstated the name in gold leaf on the fan light. The airy lobby leads through the original engraved glass shop door into a dramatic hallway space, featuring a large gilt mirror and oversized sputnik chandelier.
Living Area:
This large area has two super comfy sofas, an armchair and gold rocking chair. Soft cushions and throws aplenty!
Large gold palm leaf lamp, side tables, assortment of board games.
Large television with Netflix.
The huge bay window is adorned with bespoke curtains swept back in vintage sun tie backs.
Put the woodburner on to create a cozy winter bolthole, or open the windows on each side of the window to let the summer breezes blow through.
Open plan to the kitchen, fantastic for large group gatherings.
Kitchen:
The colourful kitchen features brass handles and backsplash, modern black sink and taps and marble composite surfaces.
Large duck egg blue range cooker and freestanding retro fridge/freezer.
Pink retro microwave, Lavazza coffee maker with eco pods, crystal glasses, high quality cookware and everything you will need to create wonderful meals.
Vintage dresser and industrial chandelier style lighting. Views over the garden from the sink.
Large bespoke wooden table with benches.
Bedrooms:
Upstairs there are four unique bedrooms.
Bedroom 1: Seascapes
Large forest green room featuring kingsize bed with velvet headboard, switched wall lights, and vintage rattan side tables.
Spacious built in wardrobe, retro occasional chair, original marble fireplace and opulent gold framed mirrors.
Luxurious bespoke seaweed patterned velvet curtains at the floor length windows leading on to the balcony with views over the iconic Lido sign.
Bedroom 2: Tamarisk
Large inky blue room featuring kingsize bed with velvet headboard, switched wall lights and vintage Flemish side tables.
Ample wardrobe space, a revamped rattan occasional chair, shelves, decorative tiled fireplace and large art deco sideboard topped with a large vintage gilt mirror.
Large window with views of the garden, dressed in a bespoke roman blind patterned with the Tamarisk that grows along our coastline in such abundance.
Bedroom 3: Sunshine
This bedroom is a small and cosy bedroom at the top of the house, painted in ombre shades of midsummer on the beach.
Handmade Taurus Kyoto zip n link wooden beds can be configured as twin singles or as a double bed - just let me know what you prefer.
Velvet fringed lampshade, switched wall lights, rustic log bedside tables, rattan shelves/drawers and use of a small cupboard with hanging rail in the upper hallway.
Bespoke roman blinds inspired by Dog Whelks from our beaches.
Bedroom 4: Sunrise
This bedroom is a small and cosy bedroom on the mezzanine level just down from the main bedrooms. Its colour mimics the ombre tangerine colours of our coastline at the start of a cloudless day.
Handmade Taurus Kyoto zip n link wooden beds can be configured as twin singles or as a double bed - just let me know what you prefer.
Patterned gold lampshade, switched wall lights, rustic log bedside tables and a small Art Deco wardrobe.
Bespoke roman blinds inspired by Netted Dog Whelks from our beaches.
Two bedrooms are on the Lower Ground floor:
Bedroom 5: Alexanders
This bedroom is apple green with a view of the tiled sunken patio area out back.
It has a king size dusky pink velvet king size bed with a headboard, hanging bedside lights, and quirky wood and resin bedside tables.
There is a large Art Deco wardrobe and Art Deco sideboard topped with a vintage brass mirror. A large fringed velvet lampshade adorns the central light.
A vintage Victorian bedroom chair has been painted yellow to match the Alexanders featured in the bespoke velvet curtains.
Ragwort Room
This room has a very good quality yellow velvet double sofa bed by Willow & Hall, bordered by brass wall lights.
It has a fold up vintage table with 4 upcycled chairs (which can be moved upstairs to increase table space in the main living area, please let me know)
It has a large TV with netflix and a woodburner to keep you warm in the winter months.
The built in storage cupboards and shelves feature plenty of board games and provide storage for clothes.
Bathrooms:
Upper Bathroom:
Large bath with electric shower and glass shower enclosure, toilet, built in cupboards and luxury marble surfaces. A great bath to put the kids in! Or dim the lights and enjoy a soak.
Bespoke blinds inspired by the seaweed from our beaches.
Ground Floor Shower Room:
At the back of the building there is a small wet room shower and toilet with modern black fittings and marble surfaces.
Lower Ground Bathroom:
With wet room shower, freestanding bath, basin and toilet. Marble surfaces and brass hardware throughout.
Snug:
The spacious internal lower ground hallway has an industrial chandelier and a cozy nook under the staircase which is home to a small velvet sofa bed that can be used for children or as a snug place to curl up with a good book.
Rattan mini bench containing children's books.
Garden:
Tiled steps into garden from the ground floor.
With limestone paving, feature tiled area and cottage garden planting. Wrought iron table with 2 chairs.
Pergola area with large custom made wooden table to seat 10.
Large gas bbq.
Wood store, play boat and compost bin.
Steps down to lower Patio Garden:
With a large picnic table, pot plants, external switched brass bulkhead light and wood store. Electric socket on back wall.
Can be gated off. Can be accessed direct from the lower ground floor without steps.
Coronavirus Rule of 6:
Ballarat House sleeps 10 when rented as one place - currently I am only taking 6 people unless you are one family unit. The lower ground apartment is separated by a thick fire door which locks closed. Please respect the current regulations and do not mix if there are guests staying in both parts of the house.
If you would like to stay in the upper house or in the lower ground apartment only please check out my other listings, both available to view from my profile.
Ballarat House upper house sleeps 8 in total. I can currently only accommodate 6 people unless you are one family unit. It's a fabulous place to spread out in!
The lower ground Apartment sleeps a maximum of 4, with 2 people on the sofa bed in the living room/diner.
Arrival:
On arrival you descend to the Lower Ground front door, right past decorative monochrome tiles and a colourful assortment of wildlife friendly planters. Retrieve your keys from the secure lock boxes, on the wall and in the lower ground lobby. All exterior lights are on sensors to enable easy well lit access.
Curtain patterns:
Richly patterned curtains feature bespoke designs by myself, inspired by local habitats and wildlife such as shells and wild flowers.
History:
Ballarat House has a fascinating history, built 150 years ago as Margate was expanding to accommodate the upscale travellers who flocked to the beautiful sandy beaches and the seawater plunge pool dug out of the chalk cliffs at Clifton Baths, created in 1855 and still to be found deep inside the Lido complex. It was owned for many years by one Isaac de Bock Kennard, who opened Kennard’s piano store in his front room.
The huge and unusual square bay window that illuminates the large living space was presumably fitted during this era circa 1899, along with the double strength wooden floors. A full length glass window in the lobby gave customers a sneak peak of the pianos before they entered through a beautiful engraved glass door, both of which remain to this day. Isaac named the house after a trip to Australia during the gold rush of the 1860s: he allegedly played the piano on the ship there and came home with a large gold nugget, much enamoured of the Australian town where he stayed.
Kennard’s eventually moved to nearby Northdown Road, then much further afield. The family business lives on with direct descendent Vernon Kennard, as Loch Ness Pianos in Inverness. During Margate’s early 20th century heyday Ballarat House became a guest house, enlarged by knocking through to the house next door and adding a room to the top floor. Finally, it became a much loved family home, before falling on hard times as an HMO. It has now been lovingly renovated to create the perfect holiday home by the sea.
There is free parking on the street, usually within metres of Ballarat House. If there are no spaces available you can usually find a space on the nearby surrounding streets. Please note that there are a lot of steps into and within Ballarat House. You have private access to the entire building.
I live close by and whilst I cannot welcome you in person (being a single mum somewhat limits my availability) I am available at any time to answer your queries and help make your guest experience the best it can be.
Ballarat House is 5 minutes walk from the famous Turner Contemporary art gallery, the enigmatic Shell Grotto, the Winter Gardens, newly opened Margate Caves, Walpole Bay tidal pool, The Libertines’ Albion Rooms and the thriving cafes and shops of trendy Northdown Road. Enjoy a clifftop wander with outstanding views out to sea, particularly the beautiful skies made famous by Turner: the sunsets really are breathtaking.
Walk a few minutes further to visit Margate Main Sands, Dreamland, the bustling Harbour Arm and all that the Old Town has to offer.
Ballarat House is also minutes from two Escape Rooms and Rossyln Court, a fantastic new folk music venue.
Most places are within an easy stroll, or the Thanet Loop bus will take you further afield.
Parking is free on the street outside the house. If there are no spaces on the street you can usually find a parking space on one of the neighbouring streets.
Luxury hotel quality 100% cotton white linen and thick fluffy towels.
Luxury spa liquid soaps, bath gels, shampoos, conditioners, bath salts and body lotions in pump dispensers in all three bathrooms.
Wi-fi throughout the property.
Netflix on both Smart TVs.
Bespoke curtains throughout.
Gold cast iron radiator and brass designer switches throughout.
2 dishwashers, 2 fridges, 2 washing machines, 1 tumble dryer.
Basic oils and spices for cooking supplied.
Thermostat central heating.
Traditional board games.
Plenty of LED candles for mood lighting.
Free wood supplied for wood burners, sustainably sourced.
Ballarat House is on a typically colourful Margate street, and it can occasionally be noisy. Any disturbance is usually brief but light sleepers should consider sleeping at the back of the property.
