Second World War coastguard station perched on the White Cliffs of Dover and once visited by Churchill before it transformed into a tea room and holiday let is on the market for £1.5m after dropping asking price by £2MILLION
- A former coastguard station that played an important role in the Second World War for sale for £1.5 million
- The station, overlooking the White Cliffs of Dover, was once so important Sir Winston Churchill visited it twice
- It was eventually converted into a tea room and boutique holiday let before being put on the market for £3.5m
- But owners have no dropped the asking price by £2 million in order to attract bidders to the historic attraction
A former coastguard station that played an important role in the Second World War and was visited by Sir Winston Churchill before being converted into a tea room and holiday let is on the market for £1.5 million, having lowered the original asking price by £2 million.
Bluebird Tea Rooms sits in a stunning position on top of the iconic White Cliffs of Dover with breathtaking panoramic views across the English Channel.
The lookout post played an important part in Britain's defences during the Second World War and the underground operations room, built 35ft below the building, was visited by Churchill twice during the war.
A former coastguard station that played an important role in the Second World War and was visited by Sir Winston Churchill before being converted into a tea room and holiday let is on the market for £1.5 million, having lowered the asking price by £2 million. The stunning boutique stay overlooks the stunning White Cliffs of Dover
Bluebird Tea Rooms sits in the stunning position on top of the iconic White Cliffs of Dover with breathtaking panoramic views across the English Channel. It was once played a critical role during the Second World War as a lookout for potential attacks from German occupied France
That room is now just used for storage but the building would make a great business for someone or could potentially become a stunning family home if permission was granted for change of use.
The 'one of a kind' property was previously marketed for £3.5m but is now on the market with Humberts for £2m less.
The land was acquired by the Ministry of War in 1914. Two huts were erected and used as a signal station for the Dover Patrol during and after the First World War.
An obelisk monument, which is next to the building, was built in 1921 as a tribute to the sailors of the Dover Patrol who lost their lives during the conflict.
The lookout post played an important part in Britain's defences during the Second World War and the underground operations room, built 35ft below the building, was visited by Churchill twice during the war. it now offers tea and scones with an indoor wood burner and idyllic seaside views
The 'one of a kind' property was previously marketed for £3.5m but is now on the market with Humberts for £2m less. A modern kitchen allows for tea, coffee and lunches to be prepared for up to 35 covers at any one time
The signal huts were replaced by a purpose-built brick Coastguard lookout in the late 1920s and then an underground operations room was built as war loomed again with two anti-aircraft guns sited to the rear.
It was important during the Second World War as its position was close to Hellfire Corner - the stretch of the Channel bombed and shelled relentlessly by the Germans - and the operations room was used extensively to monitor and coordinate shipping in the Channel.
The room housed the Magnetron radar device, which was credited with saving the UK from Nazi invasion by identifying the waves of incoming German aircraft so Spitfires and Hurricanes could target them.
The land was acquired by the Ministry of War in 1914. Two huts were erected and used as a signal station for the Dover Patrol during and after the First World War. The signal huts were replaced by a purpose-built brick Coastguard lookout in the late 1920s and then an underground operations room was built as war loomed again with two anti-aircraft guns sited to the rear
It was important during the Second World War as its position was close to Hellfire Corner - the stretch of the Channel bombed and shelled relentlessly by the Germans - and the operations room was used extensively to monitor and coordinate shipping in the Channel. It now offers a tranquil stay for people wanting to get away from the bustling city, with an abundance of natural light streaming through painted white French paneled windows
It was such an important piece of equipment it was guarded by two foot soldiers around the clock and Churchill visited twice to see it in action.
After the war, as a fully equipped coastguard station with radar scanner, the property was the principal centre for monitoring what had become the busiest shipping lane in the world.
But with new technology development and an increase in sea traffic, the decision was made to build a new multi-million pound coastguard station nearer to Dover at Langdon Cliff.
After the war, as a fully equipped coastguard station with radar scanner, the property was the principal centre for monitoring what had become the busiest shipping lane in the world. While the shipping lane is no longer as important, the views across the channel remain just as compelling, with floor to ceiling windows offering stunning panoramic views
This station was decommissioned and bought in 1994 by the current owners.
It now has 1,453 sq ft of accommodation with the ground floor mostly devoted to the business.
The tea room can provide 34 covers and seating outside for another 32 covers in summer and there is a kitchen for the tea room and a separate kitchen for the holiday let.
Upstairs there is a sitting room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a balcony.
This station was decommissioned and bought in 1994 by the current owners. It now has 1,453 sq ft of accommodation with the ground floor mostly devoted to the business
The tea room can provide 34 covers and seating outside for another 32 covers in summer and there is a kitchen for the tea room and a separate kitchen for the holiday let. Upstairs there is a sitting room, two bedrooms, a bathroom and a balcony
A trapdoor leads down two step ladders to the operations room, which is only about 15ft by 8ft.
The tea room business was run from 1997 until last Christmas but is now offered with vacant possession. It could be expanded to become a bistro by introducing evening meals.
Martin Jordan from Humberts said: 'Lots of agents say a property is unique, but this is a real one-off property. It's pretty special.
The tea room business was run from 1997 until last Christmas but is now offered with vacant possession. It could be expanded to become a bistro by introducing evening meals
'The sense of history going back to the war is incredible.
'A deciphering machine that was a forerunner to modern radar was kept in the underground room and guarded by two foot soldiers 24/7.
'There's a trapdoor that leads down a step ladder onto a half landing about 15 or 20ft down then another ladder to the domed-ceiling room.
'Being so close to the White Cliffs it had sentries on guard. The owner still has an air warden helmet from the Second World War he found in there.
'Now it has 360-degree views, with lovely countryside when you look inland and a 180-degree vista of the cross-Channel boats coming into Dover when you look out to sea.
'A buyer would need to apply for a change of use if they wanted to live in it as it only has permission for use as a holiday let and tea room, but if that was granted it would make a lovely family home with absolutely stunning views.'
