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Daily Mirror
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Downsizing' couple buy £3m home on abandoned river private island
A London couple who were planning on downsizing from their pricey Richmond home in south west London made a big U-turn when they bought a 13-bedroom mansion on a private island on the Thames A couple who once toyed with the idea of downsizing have instead made the ultimate upgrade by snapping up an abandoned 13-bedroom mansion on a private island in the Thames worth a staggering £3million. Andy Hill, 67, a music entrepreneur, and his wife Sheila, 66, say they were first drawn to the property after coming across D'Oyly Carte Island, near Weybridge, Surrey, while kayaking years ago. Despite its derelict state, the couple couldn't stop thinking about the 'ridiculous' patch of land. 'My wife is very creative and she could see through what was essentially a derelict property. Every window was smashed and boarded up, the garden had metres of brambles in it,' Andy recalled. 'She turned to me and said, 'That is so sad, we should do something about it'.' At the time, the couple were living in pricey Richmond, southwest London, and briefly considered moving into something smaller. Instead, in a dramatic U-turn, they bought the 19th-century property when the owner's agent contacted them in 2021. What followed was a long restoration project to transform the 1.9-acre island and mansion into the dream family home. 'It would have been so sad to see it demolished as it has such a rich history and culture,' Andy said. 'It is so unique - there aren't many private islands on the Thames. We just wanted a nice family home. We thought it would be a great place to have family reunions.' With their two children - both architects - and Sheila, a Royal College of Art alumna, the Hills embraced the mammoth task of bringing the property back to life. Now, their island estate hosts family birthday parties, music concerts, and even Pilates classes. A former boat house has been reinvented as a riverside bar named D'Oyly's, and a once-leaky glass dome responsible for flooding the hallway has been repaired. 'It really does feel like a party house and a fun house. We have the perfect balance,' Andy said. The couple's new home even drew a visit from Princess Anne earlier this year, who came to personally thank them for restoring the cultural landmark. The island is named after Richard D'Oyly Carte, a theatre impresario who once owned the land and produced Gilbert and Sullivan's operettas. He also founded the Savoy Hotel in London. 'He was the Simon Cowell of the 1800s,' Andy joked. Despite the steep renovation costs - and the dust, noise, and disruption- Andy insists it's been worth every penny. 'The expression 'no pain no gain' is very true. We are seeing lots of progress every day. It is fun to see what was a dead island and house be brought back to life. If I had to do it all again, I wouldn't change a thing.' Inspired by the island's musical roots, Andy launched the Weybridge Festival, hosting a series of summer concerts last year. The festival returns from July 4-6, with a hog roast, Pimm's tent, face painting, and more. To make the event safe, he met with council officials and invested £35,000 in infrastructure, including emergency escape plans. While Elmbridge Borough Council initially opposed the event, it was later approved. 'It is not dangerous. Nobody is going to burn to death on an island 50 yards from the mainland,' Andy said. 'It's an amazingly calm place to live.' The Hills are not the only ones seeking island life in the UK. Young couple Sacha Pritchard, 25, and Matt King, 28, moved to a one-bedroom bungalow on a boat-only-accessible island in Hampton, saving £20,000 a year on rent compared to London flat shares. 'It was the best decision we ever made,' said Sacha, who commutes to her job by boat and documents their lifestyle on her TikTok account @LondonIslandLiving. 'It isn't for everyone, but we love it.' But it's not without its own risks. In 2023, Andrew Philip, who lives on Pharaoh's Island in Surrey, saw his dream home engulfed by flames, with fire crews struggling to access the island due to a lack of bridges. 'It is slightly nerve-wracking living so close to water. Every few years our lawns flood,' he said. 'But it is a really lovely community.' Even so, private islands remain in demand. Last summer, Temple Weir Island near Marlow went up for sale for just £75,000 - a bargain compared to London prices. 'For those with a spirit for adventure, it's the perfect hideaway,' said estate agent Richard Maby.
BBC News
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
U-turn over concerts on Thames private island near Weybridge
A series of concerts on a private island on the River Thames in Surrey are to take place after a council U-turn over health and safety concerns.D'Oyly Carte Island has been given the go-ahead to host three days of music and entertainment from 4 to 6 July as part of the Weybridge January, Elmbridge Borough Council issued a notice to stop the event going ahead, but now said the weekend concert can go ahead "after four months of working on risk assessment and escape plans".Andy Hill, island owner and event organiser, said: "Extensive safety measures that have been put in place will result in a safe and fabulous event with some sensational performers." Mr Hill said his application was for a repeat of the event held in 2024 on the island, which is named after the London theatre impresario Richard D'Oyly Carte, who purchased it in the late 19th D'Oyly Carte built the Savoy Hotel and produced the first operettas from Gilbert And private island, which is inaccessible for part of the year, will host a range of music genres across the three days, including concerts devoted to Gilbert and officers had previously said the island's "evacuation routes in the event of a fire or an emergency were not enough for the requirements", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Mr Hill told a council meeting: "The island is 50 yards from the mainland."My experience of human beings, if confronted with burning to death or taking on 50 yards of the Thames, I know what I would do."Councillors recognised that Mr Hill had put plans in place, such as an evacuation plan and alternative Paul Hughes, chairman of the licensing committee, added: "I really encourage you to carry on working as there are clear issues that need to be resolved."
