Guesthouse Grandeur - West Bay House, Westgate
The spectacular West Bay House entices parties and film shoots alike
“We bought the house in 2019, when we had evidently taken momentary leave of our senses.”
It was a moment of madness, admits Will O’Doherty, when he decided to snap up West Bay House (@westbay_house) having just moved to Westgate-on-Sea.
But now, having transformed it into a spectacular guest house, the seafront mansion is as jaw-dropping as the views it enjoys.
O’Doherty admits West Bay House, also known as Waterside, had already caught his eye before it went on the market. You might even have regularly spotted him standing outside on Sea Road trying to see in.
It meant when the historic house - designed by renowned Victorian architect Sir Ernest George and his partner Harold Ainsworth Peto - went up for sale, O’Doherty didn’t hesitate when it came to having a look around.
“It didn’t take long for me to think ‘Oh dear, I might be in trouble here’ and by the time the viewing had finished it had escalated to ‘This place must be saved from developers!’” he says. “It was amazing, and massive, and far, far likelier to be bought by someone who’d split it into flats.
“Stars aligned, I was able to buy it with my family, and with the help of an amazing team it’s now being put to basically the same use that was intended for it back in 1880.”
Two years on and after a massive project involving talented architects, designers, heritage advisers and builders, the Westgate house has been brought back to a 21st-century version of its original grandeur.
It sleeps 18 (yes eighteen!), with nine bedrooms and nine bathrooms. There’s a library, media room, dining room, sitting room and stunning views across West Bay.
“It’s undoubtedly showy, and terribly posh in places, but really it’s all about enjoyment: enjoying the views, the luxury and, above all, the company of people you’re sharing them with,” says O’Doherty. “There are too many gorgeous details to count – genuinely, I could wax lyrical about door-hinges if you wanted – and I’m so proud of how beautiful the place is, but the truth is that the best thing about it is the view.
“It’s constantly changing and always incredible, even when it’s overcast or blowing a gale. “Honestly, I defy anyone to get bored.”
The house is perfect for getaways for families and big groups, as well as corporate retreats, events and micro-weddings.
It can also be hired out by film companies for shoots and putting up cast and crew members.
“I’m really eager for the house to continue to be used for filming and photoshoots,” says O’Doherty.
“The way it has been designed means there’s a variety of looks and feels as well as continuity.
“And it’s got really big bathrooms, in case any location scouts are reading.
“We’ve had people connected to Empire of Light stay over and are looking at housing cast and crew for a production in the summer.”
O’Doherty says the house comes into its own when bringing lots of people together and it’s impossible not to feel spoiled when staying there.
“The amazing thing about the house, actually, is even operating at the luxury end of the market, we’re basically the same cost per room as a budget hotel and what we can offer is so much better.”
O’Doherty says there’s more to come at the house, too, with the team working on a hidden gem, to be ready for the summer.
But he’s keeping tight-lipped about that one, so you’ll have to watch this space.
INFO: westbayhouse.co.uk
