Property description

Owners Comments
\"We have been extremely happy here but since we are both approaching eighty years, we have finally made the decision to retire. The B&B side has been very lucrative and it has been a pleasure meeting holiday makers whilst the Tea Rooms and Fine Dining Restaurant were very successful and we enjoyed a good reputation.\"

\"Little Mere is in a wonderful location, we have charming neighbours, there is an active Parish Council and the Hyde Church has a good social club. Our garden is totally secluded and the back fence forms the boundary of the New Forest National Park, beyond which there are fields. Little Mere is also within catchment of Burgate State School in Fordingbridge which is currently listed as outstanding.\"

Introduction
Formerly, a well reputed successful tea room and the village store; the accommodation extends to an impressive 4000 sq ft providing interesting and substantial family living. Little Mere is a stunning country home  with origins dating back circa 200 years, enjoying a wealth of period features evocative of its era, including Inglenook fireplaces, exposed beams and timbers and slatted latch doors. In more recent times, this beautifully presented accommodation has been substantially enhanced by a thoughtfully designed extension to include a large catering size kitchen and utility room. Supplementing the main house within a courtyard development facilitating much parking, are two further substantial buildings including a large garage block and double stable block, offering potential to develop the outbuildings into accommodation or excellent business usage, subject to necessary planning consents. The grounds amount to in excess of 3/4 acre and comprise pretty and particularly secluded formal gardens, ideal for entertaining, with well maintained lawns and has been zoned for paddocks with stabling for two horses. Enjoying the backdrop of open New Forest and a thriving village community within yards of the Royal Oak Public House, this property is a unique opportunity to acquire an individual yet substantial family home.  

Description
Upon entering Little Mere, one is immediately immersed in the past with reminders of its delightful heritage. The dining room is generous, featuring a ceramic tiled floor which extends the breadth of the ground floor with exposed ceiling beams, an Inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove creating an ideal venue to entertain a very large family. The kitchen has been designed with catering in mind incorporating an abundance of space for many appliances with two integrated warming drawers, deep fat fryer and a patio door to a utility area and cloakroom. Between the dining room and kitchen is a large conservatory with double doors to the patio area and access to the downstairs cloakrooms. The sitting room is dual in aspect and features an imposing Inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove. There is also access to the rear porch. The adjacent home office is a pleasant room with attractive views to the fore over the Mere. A further door leads to two bedrooms, one of which is vaulted, featuring a fully fitted ensuite shower room. This would be an ideal area for an annex or as previously intended Bed and Breakfast bedrooms. Upstairs was formerly used as the owners staff flat where there are five rooms currently dressed as bedrooms with the master enjoying ensuite facilities and the other bedrooms served by the fully fitted family bathroom.  One of the bedrooms still has provision in place to reinstate a kitchen.

Outside
The property is approached via a shingle driveway with a large parking area leading to a cattle grid and five bar gate. There is a courtyard area for parking of several vehicles and access to the stables, the open two car garage and workshop. The rear formal gardens are mainly laid to lawn and zoned for paddock whilst backing onto fields beyond.

Location
Little Mere is located in North Gorley which is a quiet and secluded part of The New Forest famed for its wonderful walking and riding country. The village boasts the famous Hockeys Farm Shop which offers a range of award winning delicacies as well as The Royal Oak public house. North Gorley is conveniently situated approximately 4 1/2 miles from the Avon Valley Market Town of Ringwood which offers comprehensive shopping facilities, a weekly market and a full range of other services such as doctors, dentists and recreational facilities. Nearby is Fordingbridge, a small market town, which has a post office, a number of banks and a variety of other shops. Shopping centres and a wider range of amenities are available a short drive away in the cathedral city of Salisbury to the north and Bournemouth to the south. As well as the leisure opportunities in the New Forest, the property benefits from easy access to Poole, Christchurch and the Solent ports for sailing and water sports. There are numerous good schools nearby including the prep school Moyles Court and Forres Sandle Manor with a further excellent range of schooling in both the public and private sector located in Salisbury. North Gorley is also very well placed for commuting to the business centres in Salisbury, Southampton and Bournemouth, all with good train services to London Waterloo (Southampton Parkway approx. 60 minutes).

Agents Notes
Rarely does a property offer as much versatility as Little Mere with the opportunity to continue its commercial facility as a restaurant/tea room or Bed and Breakfast. Alternatively, Little Mere is a large family house offering annexe potential. The property is served by oil fired central heating and a sewage treatment plant drainage system installed in 2008. 

Property Features :

• Beautiful thatched country home with versatile usage of six bedrooms dating back more than 200 year
• Thatched with hard wearing Norfolk water reed considered to last 40 years
• A generous array of reception rooms and bedrooms allowing versatile usage
• Delightful period features including exposed ceiling beams, Inglenook fireplaces
• In keeping UPVC double glazing throughout

Property Info:

• FLOOR PLAN