Ballarat House review: A magical Margate getaway

Ballarat House Review

Ballarat House is inconspicuously nestled a stone's throw from Margate's public Lido and could be your next best secret getaway.

This multi-bedroom townhouse can comfortably sleep up to ten people. The main building's basement acts as another apartment and has its own set of bedrooms, bathroom, and kitchen.

As you enter the premises, you'll be met by a charming glass door and a stunning gothic-style wooden staircase that feels as if it were carved centuries ago (but still remains sturdy).

Ballarat House is the perfect place for group getaways, weekend wanders, and memorable moments shared between friends, families, or couples looking for a more luxurious escape to the stunning views of Margate.

The coastal town - if you haven't experienced it before - is a constantly-surprising little adventure location. Stepping outside Ballarat House will have you wading into countless independent bars, restaurants, pubs, bookshops, vintage stores, and seafood bars. And if you really want to dive into the local activities: Margate's clean sandy beaches are perfect for an even more enchanting getaway on your doorstep.

Really, the difficulty will be whether you actually want to go outside, when Ballarat House's magical walls are so enticing and attractive. You'll feel your stresses drifting away as you sip sparkling beverages on the property's grand balcony.

The Rooms

Rating: 5/5

Each of the five bedrooms has different colour schemes, quirky decorations, and styles throughout. None of them are too much, and each has its own unique nuances that'll have you running to your neighbours' rooms to gush about how beautiful everything looks (before you, inevitably, find yourself awe-struck by how glitzy their room is).

Each room also comes equipped with various amenities. Full-length mirrors, towels, irons, ironing boards, and en-suites. Whichever prop or item your room might have been missing, you could surely find it in the next room over. And, considering Ballarat House is a calm and intimate building, it should be no bother for you to grab a hairdryer from the bedroom next door. 

There are three bathrooms throughout the property (including the one in the basement apartment, which can be accessed through a door on the street and through a staircase). Of these, there are three showers and two bathtubs. The main bathroom on the top floor is easily the best made for purpose. With a clean, polished, marble finish and bright open windows, it creates a wonderful atmosphere for early morning bathing. 

However, the second and third showers (on the ground floor and the basement) are more like wetrooms, with drains in the tiling rather than a traditional drainage system.

While all of the shower heads looming above were powerful and had blissful temperatures while packing enough pressure, the wetrooms became an issue after just one use.

The basement's shower, in particular, refused to drain quickly, meaning you were standing in a puddle. It generally soaked the entire bathroom, making it difficult to continue using the room after the shower had come to an end. If the group I visited with were larger, this might have become an issue in the morning when people wanted to shower in quick succession. (UPDATE: Ballarat House's landlord has now assured me this drainage issue will be looked at and resolved if the problem persists.)

With that said, the other facilities in Ballarat House were sublime. The kitchen, in particular, was a dream to use. With a classic-styled oven and a beautiful fire hob, this was a fundamental joy to cooking wonderful meals throughout the stay. Likewise, the fridge/freezer was a great size, and the cupboards came stocked with olive oil, butter, spices and various stock items needed in everyday use (little additions, but exceedingly helpful in a pinch).

Likewise, the kitchen/diner table was a sturdy hardwood piece of furniture that could easily hold a few bodies around it for intimate dinner gatherings - but perhaps not the ten people the property could house. The landlord has since noted that another table could be moved to accommodate further guests in the living room. 

While tea, coffee and decaf coffee were provided, slight frustration emerged when I realised there were no coffee pods provided for the included Nespresso machine. So, if you're visiting, stock up on those in advance (or just drink the instant coffee like we did). The landlord has since confirmed extra coffee pods will be provided in the kitchen cupboards. 

Ballarat House's living room, the heart of the house, was where most of our visit was spent.

With two sofas, a rocking chair, and a single chair, there is plenty of space to lounge around in comfort and style. A large TV borders the room with access to streaming services and a logged-in Spotify account which went a long way as we danced into the night.

A selection of board games are left for entertainment, however, we found most of these were either missing pieces or needed some TLC. It wouldn't go amiss to refresh this collection of games in the near future. Ballarat House's owner has now told me the game selection will be refreshed for future guests. 

Despite this, the living room was the perfect space to settle into for the night. And that was made even easier with the addition of the fireplace.

Ballarat House's owner left useful, detailed instructions on how to get the fire started and keep it lit throughout the night, and it was a gorgeous final touch to the stay. As the hearth crackled into the early hours of the morning, embers floated through the air, and the warmth radiated into the quietly creaking halls of Ballarat House, the fireplace accentuated the mystical feeling of this stunning property.

Peaceful, exciting, and a great space to laugh and joke our night away; memories were made in Ballarat House's living room that I'll never forget. Was it the company more than the room? Hard to say. But the plush cushions, sizzling fireplace and majestic rugs certainly helped.

Aside from a couple of tiny nit-picks, I think almost anyone would struggle to find real fault in Ballarat House's rooms.

Location

Rating: 4/5

Ballarat House is a short walk from some truly fantastic bars and restaurants, so if you're keen to step out for a short walk in the evening and spin your night away, you'll have a whale of a time.

Margate town centre is around 15 minutes away on foot, and if you do walk, you can do so past the gorgeous views of Margate beach and its various attractions and oddities.

However, it's important to note that this particular route is very turbulent, with hills and cobbles, so less able guests may struggle.

With that said, a cab journey would take minutes, and a longer, flatter route could be taken through the streets rather than the perimeter of the water.

Also, for those driving to Ballarat House, street parking is available - but it is very tight. If you're not a good parallel parker, this may be an added stress to your stay. But in my experience, it wasn't too much of an issue. 

Value for Money

Rating: 4/5

Ballarat House is a pricey property to rent - but it isn't that bad when you really look into it.

Ballarat House is £760 for a two-night stay (more on that later).  This can feel like a lot of money (and it is!) but if you're visiting Ballarat House with a group of five - or even its maximum of ten - people, this cost is quickly diminished into a very worthwhile and affordable price. After experiencing two nights there, I would run back - even at peak season prices. 

Getaways can be booked directly with Weekend Candy, or guests can compare deals using Booking.com.

Final Verdict

Ballarat House is a beautiful property that felt magical to stay in. Its walls feel hallowed, etched and decorated with care, precision, and attention. Each room's unique style bled from the walls, with gorgeous little trinkets and additions in each room to catch your attention and let you dissolve the worries of your day-to-day life.

Its location is ideal for adventuring through Margate and exploring every inch of its wondrous coast. While this may be a little more difficult for differently-abled guests, this can be remedied with a short cab journey.

With that said, the mysticism of Ballarat House's walls are, in some ways, more enticing than the Victorian coastal town. You'll struggle to want to leave.

There were some slight issues, like the bathrooms getting overly wet, and the lack of coffee pods, or the balcony's access - but these by no means ruined the trip.

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