Local entrepreneurs Sarah and Julian Russell are celebrating after their Chale holiday home scooped gold in a travel awards scheme by Sykes Cottages, the UK’s largest independent operator of UK holiday rental properties.
Taking the top spot in the Best in South Coast England, East Anglia and Isle of Wight category, the converted church –now known as Chapel House – was purchased by the couple in 2015 after sitting empty for more than a decade.
The duo, who both grew up on the Island, had already converted 2 other churches when they spotted the chapel up for sale. After deciding that they had a winning formula for converting these types of properties, they took on the challenge. Julian completed the building work, while Sarah designed the interior.
Since being made available to holidaymakers just last year, the property has already become a popular and unique bolthole for families and groups of friends wanting to explore the Isle of Wight.
The Sykes Gem Awards celebrate excellence in holiday cottage accommodation and saw thousands of entries from across the UK.
Judged by a panel of leading travel industry experts, Chapel House was assessed on its style, suitability and facilities, as well as its occupancy rate and customer feedback on cleanliness, comfort, location and value for money.
Julian Russell, said:
“We are absolutely thrilled to have won gold in these awards, it’s a real compliment after all the work we have put into this and shows that we make a really good team, Sarah and I!
Article continues below this advertisement “There’s obviously a demand for something unique in the holiday let market, so a challenge like this really excited us – we’ve worked on lots of interesting projects, including an old railway station which we converted into a restaurant called Off the Rails.
“Chapel House has been so rewarding, seeing our guests’ faces light up when they arrive and tell us it’s even more beautiful than the pictures – there isn’t a better feeling.“
Graham Donoghue, CEO of Sykes Cottages, added:
“The Sykes Gem Awards have given us the chance to celebrate unique properties like Chapel House and their owners. The awards uncover the best of the best in our portfolio of properties and make it even easier for holidaymakers to select the perfect break. Whether it’s about discovering the best walks, most beautiful beaches, or finding properties that suit large groups or families, there’s something to suit everyone.”
