Spring Issue 3 A Sawyer & Co. Publication
A quick trip through history Portslade Bowls Club See inside for details...
Your Local Multi-Award Winning Property Experts
01273 38 38 30
www.sawyerandco.co.uk
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FATBOY SLIM INTERVIEW
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WINNERS BEST ESTATE AGENT IN THE SOUTH EAST
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Dear Reader
W
elcome to the new edition of our Sawyer & Co. Magazine.
In this issue we catch up with Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim in an exclusive interview, we travel back through time to learn about Portslade Bowls Club, we have a handy guide on buying New Build Homes and also give you our regular property market update. We hope that the first few months of 2017 have treated you well, they’ve certainly been busy for us. We’re very proud to announce that already this year we’ve won the prestigious title of Best Estate Agency in the South East 2017 at The Guild Awards, which are the most important property industry accolades. If you read the property sections of the national newspapers you might also have noticed that our Sawyer & Co. properties have been getting plenty of editorial exposure. When The Sunday Times wanted to know all about Hove for their ‘20 Best Places to Live’ feature they simply came straight to us and asked. They also featured one of our properties in their list of the UK’s ‘Best Homes to Live In’. Features like these show that when we market our properties we don’t just put a sign up in the front garden and hope for the best. We make sure we reach the widest possible audience to achieve the best possible outcome.
It’s not only our successful local and national press marketing that sets us apart - exclusive interactive immersive tours, bespoke property descriptions and stunning professional photography are all part and parcel of our services available to everyone who trust us to sell their property for them. If you’d like us to come and value your property pop into the office and say hello or contact us now on 01273 38 38 30 to arrange a time that’s convenient for you. James Perry Branch Manager
Contents This month we....................................................04–05 5 Reasons to buy a new build house...... 06 Property market.........................................................07 Portslade Bowls Club.................................................08 Property for sale and rent................................. 09 Fatboy Slim Q&A...................................................10–11
Recently sold or let in your area
We’re always keen to discuss any future ideas for features, reviews or advertising as well as hearing about new charity events or community projects. Pop into the office and say hello or contact us now on 01273 77 88 44 or email jenny@sawyerandco.co.uk No part of this publication may be reproduced without prior permission from the publishers. The opinions expressed within are not necessarily those of the publishers.
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this month
Portslade LIVING
...we love
Fairfield Gardens FOR SALE
Stylish Modern Semi-Detached Bungalow with Off-Road Parking and Large Rear Garden. Behind the classic facade an immaculately presented home seamlessly incorporates both contemporary and period features creating a breath-taking example of a family home. From the Karndean wood floors, luxurious modern bathrooms and loft conversion to the stunning open plan kitchen/living room, every aspect of this home is finished to an incredibly high standard.
Contact us now on 01273 38 38 30 and find out more about this property.
this month...
...we’re looking forward to
Taking part in the Blooming Boundary Campaign. We’re very proud to be sponsoring this fantastic local event this year. Organised by local residents and Councillor Robert Nemeth, our high street will soon be brightened up with a selection of colourful plant and flower displays. A great way to make a positive impact on our local community, the first three planters are now in place and there are around twenty more still to come.
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this month ...we’re enjoying A little something we like to call Irene’s Insalata. Our new professional in-house photographer hails from the beautiful Italian island of Sicily and moved to Brighton after falling in love with our vibrant city. With spring finally here it seems only fitting that we share her own take on a healthy Mediterranean salad. Roughly grate 8oz of carrots, 4oz beetroot and 4oz of Gala apples and mix together in a bowl. Thinly slice 4oz of fresh celery and add to the mix. Gently squeeze the juice of a lemon onto the mixture together with a generous drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and stir. Finally, add a handful of fresh mint leaves and opal! Buon Appetito
…we’re listening to Monday mornings can always feel like a chore after a long weekend. However, as the great Bob Marley once said “one good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain” and with that in mind here’s an eclectic sample of what we’re listening to on our way into work at the moment: Sweet Southern Comfort – Buddy Jewell Thick As Thieves – The Jam Ordinary People – John Legend Beautiful Thing – Stone Roses Darkness Rolling – Lo Fidelity Allstars Show You – Duelle
Listen to our Sawyer & Co playlists at find out more at: https://open.spotify. com/user/sawyerco
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Property Market Update One of the most important things that a good estate agent knows is that relationships with sellers and buyers need to be based on trust. That’s why at Sawyer & Co. we place a big value on our honesty and the fact that we will always tell it like it is. There may have been plenty of talk of uncertain times for the property market however, we are now seeing the usual upturn in activity that we always expect to see at this time of year. Money is still cheap to borrow, mortgages are a little easier to come by and a weak sterling is good news for overseas buyers. Sensibly priced properties have been selling swiftly already this year and the best weeks are ahead of us now. Of course, that’s where we think our accurate and realistic valuation skills really come into play, and our track record of a low percentage of price reductions on our properties compared to our main competitors backs this up. Consistent kudos for our area as seen in the recent Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Live’ feature means buyer interest is consistently high. The newspaper
feature highlighted the fact that from up and down-sizers, commuters and investors to those looking for second homes or just wanting to relocate, we continue to be popular with a wide range of buyers. During these months when the sun starts to get higher in the sky and we venture out onto the beach and into our gardens, everything looks so much better here in our fair city. Never underestimate the way that people visiting our city walk along the seafront, around the lanes, up through Kemp Town or around Hove and then decide they want to move here from outside the area. Our exclusive Matterport 360 degree viewing service has attracted interest from out of area and overseas buyers who then go on to view in person, making it a vital addition to our services and yet another aspect of the way we do things that sets us apart. Contact our property experts now on 01273 38 38 30 or pop into our branch at 10 Station Road and allow us to get things moving for you.
For Sale £379,950
Spacious 2 Bedroom Ground Floor Flat with Large Garden and Period Features. Set back from a quiet tree-lined road in the highly sought after New Church Road area, this beautifully presented bay fronted home is perfectly positioned for commuters and offers easy access to Hove Lagoon and Wish Park.
Portland Villas Available NOW Contact us now on 01273 38 38 30 for more details. Sawyer& Co_Portslade_Living Issue 2 2017.indd 7
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Portslade Bowls Club a quick trip through history
Thought to be on the site of the Ronuk factory’s old staff tennis courts, Portslade Bowls Club was established in 1960 and is one of the friendliest outdoor bowls clubs on the South Coast. Known for its Fowler’s Wax Polish, Ronuk moved to Portslade in 1902 where the business went from strength to strength adding new offices, a caretaker’s cottage and canteen over the following years. The only remaining vestige of the Ronuk empire is the Ronuk Hall and Welfare Institute which opened in 1928 which went on to become Portslade Town Hall. The factory’s staff were able to enjoy the beautifully maintained gardens, sports ground and tennis courts and it is here that Portslade Bowls Club is found today. As an associate member of Bowls England, toady the club is affiliated to Sussex County
Bowls, Brighton Hove & District Bowling League and Hove Mixed League. Fostering and providing equal opportunities for both men and women to fully participate in all of the club’s activities, bowling includes a Captain’s roll-up on Mondays, friendly matches at home and away with other local clubs, external leagues, internal competitions and fun days. One of the friendly matches played in 2015 was against the Royal Household in the grounds of Windsor castle, with Portslade winning the match by one shot. Unfortunately, due to the proposed cuts by City Parks Portslade Bowls Club is currently engaged in activities ranging from fundraisers to free taster and coaching sessions in order to secure its long term future. If you’d like to join the club or help to keep it open please contact them at www. portsladebowlsclub.com
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2 Bedroom Terrace House in Quiet Cul De Sac. Conveniently situated in a popular location near to all the amenities of Boundary Road with easy access to both Portslade and Fishergate stations, this red brick terrace house mixes period features with contemporary interior design. Set in a quiet tree-lined cul de sac, a large open plan living/dining room, two double bedrooms and an easy to maintain rear garden combine to create a fantastic example of modern family living in a period property.
For Sale ÂŁ299,950
Contact us now on 01273 38 38 30 for more details
Superb Newly Built Semi-Detached, End of Terrace and Mid-Terrace Houses with Off-Road Parking and Large Rear Gardens.
For Sale ÂŁ400,000
Superb Newly Built Semi-Detached, End of Terrace and Mid-Terrace Houses with Off-Road Parking and Large Rear Gardens. Conveniently located near to the award winning Easthill Park, offering easy access to the A27/ A23, these newly built houses are part of a beautifully presented new development in the popular Foredown area of Portslade. This is a fantastic opportunity to acquire an exceptional new home whose spacious layout features three bedrooms, an open plan fully fitted kitchen/dining room and stylish modern bathrooms. BLP Warranty. Mill Lane / Deacons Drive Call us now on 01273 38 38 30 for more details
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FATBOY SLIM – EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW From headlining this year’s Wildlife Festival to the Electric Daisy Carnival in Japan, Brighton & Hove’s favourite adopted son Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim looks set to have a busy 2017. Sawyer & Co. caught up with him to talk about all things Brighton & Hove…. Q. The old music industry cliché used to be about becoming successful and buying an old medieval mansion in the countryside. There’s plenty dotted around Sussex, why did you choose the beach front instead? A. Tee hee. I’m not a country boy and have always felt the lure of the sea. The beach has always drawn and inspired me. More importantly though, in my partying days and with a recording studio in my house it was important to have no near neighbours! Q. You must have travelled pretty much everywhere in the world by now. What’s so special about Brighton and Hove that keeps you calling it home? A. Well mainly because it is just that...home... I love the relaxed and tolerant atmosphere here, the slightly eccentric. I have lived here for 35 years now and all my hopes and dreams seem to come true here. Q. Was the legendary ‘House of Love’ the first property you owned, what made you choose it, whereabouts was it and do you still own it? A. My brother in law lives there now. It wasn’t a special house, a Victorian end of terrace backing on to the railway tracks, but it had very tolerant neighbours, a basement lounge that seemed to be perfectly soundproof and that was where our most infamous parties went on. When the party ended I would fall into the studio, watch the trains go by and record tunes for the next week’s party
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“I would sign Neymar, we could do with more Brazilian flair...”
www.sawyerandco.co.uk
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Q. When you first moved to Brighton was Western Esplanade as famous as it is now and did you ever think that one day you’d live there? A. I didn’t know it even existed before an estate agent told me about it (after living here for a good ten years...). As I began the process of moving in I quickly learnt of its rich eccentric celebrity history, with tales of Frank Sinatra, Joe Orton etc. all staying here. It still remains kinda ‘Stella Street’. Q. The i360 still seems to be a Marmite moment for local residents, people either love it or hate it. What does it mean for you and how important do you think it is for the city? A. I love it. I think it reflects our forward thinking, slightly eccentric attitude and will become as iconic as the Pavilion or the piers whether you like it or not. It will attract many more visitors to the city (again some people think this is a negative but our economy relies on visitors, love them or hate them). I bet when the Pavilion first opened not everyone said, ‘my, what a tasteful piece of architecture that blends in with its surroundings’... Q. You’re famous for using different pseudonyms, one of which is of course the Brighton Port Authority (BPA). Are there any others using local names/ areas that we might not know about? A. I’ve always wanted to use the name Jesus Martinez. Nothing to do with Brighton, he was a character in Hill St Blues. By the way the Brighton Port Authority was supposed to be called Shoreham Port Authority but we didn’t want to upset the real one! Q. Are we going to see a Big Beach 6? A. Never say never.... Perhaps a party to celebrate the Albion finally reaching the Premiership??? Q. Speaking of which…What do you think of the Seagulls’ chance of promotion this season? Do you get to many matches these days and if you could sign any player in the world for them who would it be?
A. I go to every home match that I am in Brighton for, which is normally about half of them. I think every year we inch closer to the Prem, last season we were about as close as you can be so the only way is up! I would sign Neymar, we could do with more Brazilian flair... Q. With so many bands doing reunion tours at the moment are you ever tempted to pick up the bass again and play as the Housemartins? A. Not a rat’s chance in hell. We made a pact that we would only reform if the Smiths did... Q. You own The Big Beach Café and it has a great local reputation for its food. Are you a dab hand in the kitchen yourself and do you ever venture into the Café’s and do any cooking there? A. I do enjoy cooking but I don’t have the chops for a professional kitchen! I take my hat off to the two Danny’s who sweat their hearts out in there... Q. Other than the Big Beach Café, where’s your favourite place in Brighton and Hove to go for coffee, Sunday lunch, late breakfast? A. I love both Riddle and Finns, The Set, 64 degrees, Silo and any of the Gingers (pig, dog, man, fox...take your pick...) Q. When you moved to Brighton in the 80’s the club scene here was pretty legendary. What do you think of the local club scene these days? A. Sadly I don’t get out much these days. Bit of a busman’s holiday when my job is spent in clubs and festivals. When I relax I eat rather than dancing... Q. When can we expect to hear a new Fatboy Slim album, any time soon? A. Not in the immediate future but I do have a cheeky little single up my sleeve... Q. If you could change one thing what do you think would make Brighton and Hove an even better place to live? A. Obviously I would restructure the crazy road and parking system. It patently doesn’t work!
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WINNERS BEST ESTATE AGENT IN THE SOUTH EAST
Portslade 10 Station Road, Portslade BN41 1GA 01273 38 38 30
Silver BEST
BEST
ESTATE AGENT
LETTING AGENT in Brighton And Hove
in Brighton And Hove
2015 for
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
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Sawyer & Co. Small Estate Agency of the Year
2015 for
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
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