Surrey Homes | SH27 | January 2017 | Health & Beauty supplement inside

HOUSE OF THE MONTH
1.
Fit for the New Year
Maggie Alderson finds homes with exercise facilities
How’s your waistband? Feeling a little snug? There’s no escaping it, we’re back
at the point we reach every new year when a look in the mirror can be a terrible
shock, when a bloated and puffy Mr/Mrs/Ms Blobby looks back at you.
Whether it was the lethal discovery of Aldi mince pies (amazing for
the money – they beat Fortnum’s in a blind tasting! – let’s have another
six!) or that killer recipe for home-made Baileys, which was circulating
on Facebook in December, containing lavish double cream and a whole
tin of condensed milk, January brings the need to fight the flab.
The choice of fad diets becomes ever more bewildering, but whether you
opt to go cold turkey on sugar, ban all carbohydrates, go vegan/gluten free
Deliciously Ella style, or make like Fred Flinstone on the Paleo regime, you can’t
escape the hard fact that food deprivation hell won’t be enough on its own.
In the words of the great King Julien: You’ve got to move it, move
it. Or else risk being serenaded by that other great character from
Madagascar, Moto Moto (‘I like em big, I like em chunky…’)
Of course, this is also the time of year when gyms and health clubs are offering
enticing deals to sign up at a reduced rate. We’ve all done it once, haven’t we?
Only to see that chunk of cash disappearing from the current account each
month – from the comfort of our sofa. When it’s cold outside, who can face
the thought of driving to the gym and coming home again with wet hair?
How much easier then, to have the fitness facilities just a short waddle
from that sofa – and your bed – in a house that has it all laid on.
The dream is the indoor pool, with the fully fitted gym, plus sauna
– and not forgetting the hot tub, which is a great way to pretend
you’re working out while basically having a nice hot bath.
But the more classic English house combination of an outdoor pool and an allweather
tennis court are great incentives to keep fit too – and the great thing about
that option is that you can put off starting your new regime until at least May…
1. Englemere
Where? Englemere sits within
walking distance of the attractions of
Ascot High Street and close to the
world-famous racecourse, within 12
acres of private landscaped grounds. For
golfers, Wentworth and Sunningdale
are in the vicinity. Trains take under
an hour to Waterloo from Ascot.
What? The original property, built
circa 1815, was a Victorian country
house of distinction. The new version,
an architectural tribute to the original
Italianate-style mansion, offers 17 unique
two and three bedroom properties offering
every 21st century luxury, finished to
an elite standard. Outside are beautiful
grounds with mature landscaping,
woodland areas with ancient trees -
including a 500-year-old - a walled formal
garden, fountain and terrace. The original
enclosed squash court has been renovated
as a luxury leisure suite, with a club lounge
and a mezzanine-level gym, as well as a
kitchen and changing rooms. This leads
out to a swimming pool with a communal
BBQ area and two enclosed tennis courts
that are available for residents’ private use.
How much? Homes at Englemere
start from £1,350,000. For more
information call 01344 206201 or contact
the selling agents, Knight Frank via email
englemere@knightfrank.com
wealdentimes.co.uk
12