Ballarat House
Spacious Seaside House for Friends and
Family Getaways Sleeps up to 10 guests
6+ years welcoming 2,000+
guests to our holiday homes
Over 20,000 guest nights
across our properties
Over 2,000 guests, Average
Rating: 4.8 stars across platforms
As featured in
Welcome to Ballarat House
MARGATE, KENT
Ballarat House is brilliantly placed to visit Margate Old Town, Cliftonville and the beach.
Lovingly renovated with quirky, colourful decor, 10 beds, 3 bathrooms, 2 living spaces with woodburners, walled garden with gas BBQ & views over the iconic Lido sign on the seafront.
Sleep in one of our colourful bedrooms on comfortable beds snuggled in hotel quality linen with plenty of throws. Choose from three bathrooms, ensuring there’s never a big queue to wash.
Cook your breakfast on the range in the fully equipped kitchen and sit at the large wooden table or on the comfy sofas to catch up with your loved ones before heading out for the day.
Enjoy a spacious coastal retreat in Margate with family and friends
What You'll Love
Spacious Seaside House
The enigmatic Shell Grotto
Spacious garden and patio
Plenty of LED candles for mood lighting.
Off-road parking
Step Outside and Explore!
Turner Contemporary art gallery
The enigmatic Shell Grotto
The Winter Gardens
Walpole Bay tidal pool
Newly opened Margate Caves
Cliftonville and the beach
Check In and Out
Check In at 16:00
Check Out at 11:00
ENTRANCE:
Grand monochrome geometric tiled steps lead up to the original front door, bordered with box plants, now painted aubergine and adorned with brass hardware including a retro modernist seagull door knocker.
A local sign artist has reinstated the name in gold leaf on the fan light. The airy lobby leads through the original engraved glass shop door into a dramatic hallway space, featuring a large gilt mirror and oversized sputnik chandelier.
LIVING AREA:
This large area has two super comfy sofas, an armchair and gold rocking chair. Soft cushions and throws aplenty!
Large gold palm leaf lamp, side tables, assortment of board games.
Large television with Netflix.
The huge bay window is adorned with bespoke curtains swept back in vintage sun tie backs.
Put the woodburner on to create a cozy winter bolthole, or open the windows on each side of the window to let the summer breezes blow through.
Open plan to the kitchen, fantastic for large group gatherings.
SPACIOUS KITCHEN & DINING
The colourful kitchen features brass handles and backsplash, modern black sink and taps and marble composite surfaces.
Large duck egg blue range cooker and freestanding retro fridge/freezer.
Pink retro microwave, Lavazza coffee maker with eco pods, crystal glasses, high quality cookware and everything you will need to create wonderful meals. Vintage dresser and industrial chandelier style lighting. Views over the garden from the sink.
Large bespoke wooden table with benches.
UPPER BATHROOM
Large bath with electric shower and glass shower enclosure, toilet, built in cupboards and luxury marble surfaces. A great bath to put the kids in! Or dim the lights and enjoy a soak.
Bespoke blinds inspired by the seaweed from our beaches.
GROUND FLOOR SHOWER ROOM
At the back of the building there is a small wet room shower and toilet with modern black fittings and marble surfaces.
LOWER GROUND BATHROOM
With wet room shower, freestanding bath, basin and toilet. Marble surfaces and brass hardware throughout.
SNUG
The spacious internal lower ground hallway has an industrial chandelier and a cozy nook under the staircase which is home to a small velvet sofa bed that can be used for children or as a snug place to curl up with a good book.
Rattan mini bench containing children's books.
GARDEN
Tiled steps into garden from the ground floor.
With limestone paving, feature tiled area and cottage garden planting. Wrought iron table with 2 chairs.
Pergola area with large custom made wooden table to seat 10.
LARGE GAS BBQ
Wood store, play boat and compost bin.
STEP DOWN TO LOWER PATIO GARDEN
With a large picnic table, pot plants, external switched brass bulkhead light and wood store. Electric socket on back wall.
Can be gated off. Can be accessed direct from the lower ground floor without steps.
BEDROOMS:
Upstairs there are four unique bedrooms.
BEDROOM 1 SEASCAPES:
Large forest green room featuring kingsize bed with velvet headboard, switched wall lights, and vintage rattan side tables.
Spacious built in wardrobe, retro occasional chair, original marble fireplace and opulent gold framed mirrors.
Luxurious bespoke seaweed patterned velvet curtains at the floor length windows leading on to the balcony with views over the iconic Lido sign.
BEDROOM 2 TAMARISK:
Large inky blue room featuring kingsize bed with velvet headboard, switched wall lights and vintage Flemish side tables.
Ample wardrobe space, a revamped rattan occasional chair, shelves, decorative tiled fireplace and large art deco sideboard topped with a large vintage gilt mirror.
Large window with views of the garden, dressed in a bespoke roman blind patterned with the Tamarisk that grows along our coastline in such abundance.
BEDROOM 3 TAMARISK:
This bedroom is a small and cosy bedroom at the top of the house, painted in ombre shades of midsummer on the beach.
Handmade Taurus Kyoto zip n link wooden beds can be configured as twin singles or as a double bed - just let me know what you prefer.
Velvet fringed lampshade, switched wall lights, rustic log bedside tables, rattan shelves/drawers and use of a small cupboard with hanging rail in the upper hallway.
Bespoke roman blinds inspired by Dog Whelks from our beaches.
BEDROOM 4 SUNRISE:
This bedroom is a small and cosy bedroom on the mezzanine level just down from the main bedrooms. Its colour mimics the ombre tangerine colours of our coastline at the start of a cloudless day.
Handmade Taurus Kyoto zip n link wooden beds can be configured as twin singles or as a double bed - just let me know what you prefer.
Patterned gold lampshade, switched wall lights, rustic log bedside tables and a small Art Deco wardrobe.
Bespoke roman blinds inspired by Netted Dog Whelks from our beaches.
Two bedrooms are on the Lower Ground floor:
BEDROOM 5 ALEXANDERS:
This bedroom is apple green with a view of the tiled sunken patio area out back.
It has a king size dusky pink velvet king size bed with a headboard, hanging bedside lights, and quirky wood and resin bedside tables.
There is a large Art Deco wardrobe and Art Deco sideboard topped with a vintage brass mirror. A large fringed velvet lampshade adorns the central light.
A vintage Victorian bedroom chair has been painted yellow to match the Alexanders featured in the bespoke velvet curtains.
RAGWORT ROOM:
This room has a very good quality yellow velvet double sofa bed by Willow & Hall, bordered by brass wall lights.
It has a fold up vintage table with 4 upcycled chairs (which can be moved upstairs to increase table space in the main living area, please let me know)
It has a large TV with netflix and a woodburner to keep you warm in the winter months.
The built in storage cupboards and shelves feature plenty of board games and provide storage for clothes.
HISTORY
Ballarat House has a fascinating history, built 150 years ago as Margate was expanding to accommodate the upscale travellers who flocked to the beautiful sandy beaches and the seawater plunge pool dug out of the chalk cliffs at Clifton Baths, created in 1855 and still to be found deep inside the Lido complex. It was owned for many years by one Isaac de Bock Kennard, who opened Kennard’s piano store in his front room.
The huge and unusual square bay window that illuminates the large living space was presumably fitted during this era circa 1899, along with the double strength wooden floors. A full length glass window in the lobby gave customers a sneak peak of the pianos before they entered through a beautiful engraved glass door, both of which remain to this day.
Isaac named the house after a trip to Australia during the gold rush of the 1860s: he allegedly played the piano on the ship there and came home with a large gold nugget, much enamoured of the Australian town where he stayed.
Kennard’s eventually moved to nearby Northdown Road, then much further afield. The family business lives on with direct descendent Vernon Kennard, as Loch Ness Pianos in Inverness. During Margate’s early 20th century heyday Ballarat House became a guest house, enlarged by knocking through to the house next door and adding a room to the top floor. Finally, it became a much loved family home, before falling on hard times as an HMO. It has now been lovingly renovated to create the perfect holiday home by the sea.
Your Stay At A Glance
Why Book Direct With Us
When you book directly, you get the best price, clearer communication, and a more personal experience from the team who actually looks after the homes. No extra fees, no middlemen - just an easier, smoother stay from start to finish.
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What Our Guests Say...
ANNIE
“We loved staying at the house, it's beautiful and brilliantly located for all of the best bits of Margate. The living space in particular is great for big groups.”
GEORGIA
“Fantastic house! So quirky and comfortable, everything we needed for a birthday weekend. Also, great location!"
ALISTAIR
“Stunning house in a great location near to the beach and Margate Old Town. Amelia was a great host. We’d love to come back and stay again.”
How To Book Your Stay
Planning your stay should feel simple, not stressful.
Here’s the quick, no-fuss way to find the right home and get your holiday booked in just a few steps.
STEP 1: Browse and Choose
Explore the homes available and select the one that suits your stay.
STEP 2: Book Securely via 3rd Party System
When you’re ready, you’ll be taken to our trusted third-party booking system to confirm your stay. Safe, straightforward, and completely transparent.
STEP 3: Enjoy Your Stay!
Arrive, settle in, and make yourself at home. Every property is prepared with comfort and ease in mind - all that’s left is to enjoy the break you’ve been waiting for.
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Firebow Holidays offers hand-picked holiday homes across Kent and Sussex, including coastal houses in Kent and peaceful woodland retreats in Sussex. Our homes are designed for families, friends and groups looking for comfortable, character-filled accommodation in the South East.
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