Great expectations in Greatstone
Kent may be known for its long association with gardens, but it’s been forgotten as the birthplace of a housing style now known the world over. In the late 1860s, the very first bungalows were built by architect John Taylor in Westgate-on-Sea, near Margate, as beach houses. Taking their name from the Indian ‘bangla’ (literally “in the Bengal style”), these popular houses sprung up throughout the late 19th and early 20th century and became well-known for their easy, accessible, open spaces.
Not too far around the southern coast from Margate, Greatstone is a quiet town poised between St Mary’s Bay to the north and Dungeness’ famous spit of shingle to the South. Without the British beach fanfare of piers and pies, ice creams and silly hats, Greatstone’s beach is left to its own pebbly wide wilderness. More the beautiful for it of course, it brings its own calm as visitors take a while to gaze at the waves.
Just a three-minute walk away from the sandy dunes and freshly updated with paint, timber cladding and smart new doors, Sotine Beach House has, for Charlie, its new owner, presented a chance to add holiday letting to his entrepreneurial CV. He had been looking for many months to find the perfect project and finally this family bungalow showed up. In good condition with relatively newly fitted bathrooms and a smart kitchen, it needed some tweaking for holiday letting – though not major surgery – so, from getting the keys to welcoming their first guest only took around three months.
But how did he work out where to start and what to choose? Where was his budget spent and how did it work out?
As Charlie had sensed before starting out, modern holiday letting now demands a ‘customer first’ head with the expectations of his potential guests infusing every practical decision. Helpfully Bloom Stays’ team were on hand from the beginning advising on layout, bed choices and garden plans as well as adding the ‘extras’ expected to make a holiday home feel just that.
With guests now looking for games rooms and hot tubs, secure gardens, TV rooms and outside entertainment, Sotine’s layout was adjusted to incorporate these ideas – plus some additional features including a children’s book nook. The TV room now has a huge cinema style TV and the bedrooms can be reconfigured using zip and link beds so the twin room can easily become a double for grown up guests.
The existing hot tub, a prerequisite for higher rental value, was refreshed and cleaned up whilst the outdoor garden room had a small pool and ping pong table added alongside the retro cocktail bar. Painted a vibrant orange, it’s beautifully lit at night giving the whole space a holiday feel, especially with the groups of friends there which this whole space was designed with them in mind.
The details are important too. Fresh morning coffee is a nice-to-have so Sotine has a bean-to-cup espresso machine with the first few capsules supplied. Hotel quality linens in fresh white mean the bed looks and feels just right for a great night’s sleep. With the zzz’s in mind, the beds were tested by friends and family pre-launch to make sure they were up to the job of relaxation. The neutral colour palette throughout quietly whispers calm which is balanced with the gold used sparingly just to give a touch of glamour. Atmospheric lighting was chosen especially for key areas, especially outside on the deck. In the kitchen, the owners took their cue from their own baking-mad son who loves cookies so visitors will find baking trays, cake tins, measuring spoons and scales to entertain small hands and hungry tummies whatever the weather. There’s also a dressing up box and sensory toys for those keener to stay out of the kitchen and a high chair for those on spectator duties. There’s a cot on standby for younger visitors.
From his point of view, Charlie’s delighted that his new venture he’s invested time and money in will start to realise its value in 2026. He and his family wanted to create a new income opportunity for themselves but also a place that was special to spend time in. Greatstone’s understated charm has drawn them in; Sotine’s ability to take them ‘away from it all’ will keep them there.
