A new hospitality destination blending heritage and modern luxury is coming to Sussex.
Sefton Place, in Arundel, is the latest project from Mark and Caroline Winship, a husband-and-wife team of entrepreneurs who are re-imagining the venue as a multi-dimensional estate.
The couple are currently in the process of renovating the property and plan to open in August later this year.
Mark said: “It’s a really exciting period in the process when we start to see it taking shape, and we can see the spaces that we’ve envisaged and that we’ve designed taking shape.
“All of the big decisions now about the finish, look and feel are starting to get locked in.
“We’ve had kitchens designed, we’ve chosen bathroom suites and flooring.
“And really now it feels like we’re sort of on a downhill run towards a launch.”
Mark and Caroline Winship (Image: Mark and Caroline Winship)
The Winships first transitioned into property ten years ago, following a shift in priorities after Caroline was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013.
Caroline had previously worked in education, while Mark ran a successful high-performance tennis academy.
Caroline said: “Suddenly you start to prioritize different things, like our goals for the future and our family and everything else. And also, you kind of think to yourself, I’m still here, I’m still fighting.
“Before 2013 I’d be like, oh no, we can’t do that, we mustn’t do that.
“Whereas when I had the diagnosis and I came through the diagnosis, it was almost like every day is a bonus.
“So that’s when we started looking at other opportunities.”
Sefton Place, in Arundel (Image: Mark and Caroline Winship)
The couple said the transition into hospitality felt natural in light of their people-focused backgrounds. They said Sefton Place will represent an ultimate expression of their desire to help guests create memories.
The venue will incorporate the couples pioneering ‘aparthotel’ model, described as an upgraded form of traditional hotel businesses.
Each suite at Sefton Place will contain self-catering kitchen facilities, allowing people the flexibility to cook for themselves or visit Arundel’s range of local eateries.
Washing and laundry facilities will also be provided on-site.
The venue will also feature a purpose-built function room that can be hired out and the couple said they had already had an “overwhelming response” from providers looking to offer retreats.
A concept drawing of the plans for Sefton Place (Image: Mark and Caroline Winship)
Caroline said: “The most important thing for us is to give our guests the best experience and the best memories that we can possibly give them.
“Because obviously when you take time out, or you spend money, or you want to go and stay somewhere, people work hard for their money, and it’s about being able to be able to facilitate their memory creation.”
Renovations at the property are currently underway (Image: Mark and Caroline Winship)
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Once complete, Sefton Place will include 15 luxury holiday suites, alongside a five-bedroom luxury holiday let.
As part of the renovation, the Winships are seeking to make full-use of the hotel’s South Downs setting, with an aim to becoming the first “truly nature-forwards hotel in the UK”.
Mark said: “We’re working closely with the South Downs National Park trust to extend the orchard, plant wild meadow flowers, and really create a space where people can reconnect with nature and actually actively encourage nature onto the grounds.
“We have plans to erect a whole series of nest cams that will feed into a screen in the lobby of the hotel, so that our human guests can also see some of the wildlife that is resident on the property.
“We really want there to be an immersive element to that where the grounds are full of bird song and buzzing insect life, and just an opportunity for people to reconnect with nature.”
Renovations on the property are currently ongoing and are around half-way completed.
The couple have set up a social media account, with readers able to follow their progress here.
