A couple who scooped a £4 million mansion in an Omaze competition are now letting it out as a luxury holiday home for £4k per week, despite previous attempts by the city to limit such rentals.
Paul Knight, 47, a bar manager, found out he had won the historic property in Bath – once owned by the inventor of the flushing toilet – while he was on the loo.
He and his partner Jason Snowdon, 36, have since listed the stunning 16th century Batheaston House for guests to rent at a cost of £3838 per week.
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The pair bagged the house – along with £250k in cash – for just a £20 entry in February this year.
Holiday lets in Bath have been a bone of contention among locals, and last November, the city’s Green Party group tried to impose a cap on them.
However, Paul said their aim was to ‘share’ the beauty of the property with others.
He stated: “Justin and I were shocked when we found out we’d won Batheaston House through the Omaze Million Pound House Draw – but once the initial shock had subsided, we started to think about
The property has been advertised for 4,000-a-week – but the couple, who have been together for over 12 years, have now come up with another use for it.
what we could do with such an impressive property.
“We were adamant that we wanted to share its beauty with other people and holiday letting seemed the best way to do this, allowing us to generate a healthy income while still getting to use it sometimes.
“It’s been a complete career shift for me, but I’ve loved every minute, and the Sykes team has been wonderful as we find our feet too. We’re excited to see where this journey takes us.”
The matter of holiday lets in Bath was thrust into the spotlight, with a motion emphasising more than 1000 Airbnbs operating in the city.
Councillor Joanna Wright remarked: “Whilst we appreciate the economic benefits of tourism we cannot ignore the toll it takes on our residents, with over 1000 Airbnbs listed in our city, the availability of homes for long-term residents is dwindling”.
The proposal was ultimately rejected with 40 votes against and merely four in support.
Paul, who had been grafting in pubs since he was 18 years old, quit his role overseeing a bar in Reading following their massive windfall and now runs the estate.
His partner of more than 12 years, Justin, has carried on working as part of an airline cabin crew.
When Omaze initially rang Paul to inform him he’d bagged a prize, he was browsing through his phone whilst taking a loo break.
A delighted Paul revealed: “When I got a message from Omaze, I was actually sitting on the toilet at work reading about a lost lottery ticket thinking that it would be just my luck – but how wrong was I! ?”.
“As I was at work, I had to take an early break to nip out and meet the Omaze team to find out exactly what I’d won – but it was well worth skiving off for an hour!”.
The property has been advertised for 4,000-a-week – but the couple, who have been together for over 12 years, have now come up with another use for it.
“I knew something was up when I saw all the cameras – I thought they’re not rolling this out for a £10 gift voucher, are they! ? When they revealed I’d won a £4m country house, I was just utterly gobsmacked!
“It was all so crazy – but I didn’t have to let it compute as I had to rush back to work straight afterwards!”.
“I was very tempted to say drinks are literally on the house when I got back, but it was all so surreal I just told one colleague and cracked on with my shift as if nothing had happened!”.
“She was saying you’re a millionaire now – you don’t need to be clearing tables!”.
“My partner Justin is a flight attendant, so he came back late from New York Friday night.
“I woke up very early, which is rare for me, to tell him the good news. He couldn’t comprehend it and said it must be the jet lag kicking in and he’s hallucinating!”.
The property itself formed part of the estate belonging to Sir John Harington, Elizabeth I’s godson, during Queen Anne’s reign – and the inventor of the world’s first flushing toilet.
The property has been advertised for 4,000-a-week – but the couple, who have been together for over 12 years, have now come up with another use for it.
The building’s exterior has remained virtually untouched since 1712, whilst the interior still boasts numerous distinctive period features including a working internal well, a concealed Georgian drawer safe, and ancient graffiti dating back to 1636.
The Grade II listed property underwent meticulous restoration in 2015 to create a truly remarkable residence, complete with one acre of pristine gardens and grounds.
Sykes Holiday Cottages Chief Commercial Officer James Shaw commented: “There are so many different routes into holiday letting, and Paul and Justin are a great example of this.
“Opening up their Million Pound House to holidaymakers allows them to fully reap the rewards of their win, not only from a financial point of view, but also because of the flexibility holiday letting can give them.”
