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To all the world, ‘The Golf Open’ looks like a standard mid-terraced house – but looks can be deceiving.
Located on a quiet street on the outskirts of Southport, the converted property is rented out to holidaymakers regularly and many locals can’t fathom why after seeing inside.
On Airbnb, the property is described as a ‘stunning villa with garden’ with pictures showing a large outside terrace at the back of the building complete with fake grass.
The owners seem keen to capitalise on their proximity to the Royal Birkdale Golf Club, with the listing promising: ‘Multiple living spaces – plenty of room for birdies, bogeys, and post-round BBQs!’
The listing states that a two-night stay at the villa would cost a couple £2960.
The house has been painstakingly converted into three flats but its the decor that has really got people talking.
Since being listed last year, interior pictures of the property, which house hunters have described as ‘like an office from the 1980s crossed with a Sultan’s palace’, have circulated like wildfire on online forums.
Indeed, the extreme preference for leather furniture and intriguing colour palette imbue each of the largely windowless flats with a degree of oriental sophistication.
To all the world, ‘The Golf Open’ looks like a standard mid-terraced house – but looks can be deceiving
Located on a quiet street on the outskirts of Southport, the converted property is predominately used as an Airbnb
The interiors have been likened to ‘an office from the 1980s crossed with a Sultan’s palace’
When the Daily Mail visited the property this week, several locals described the place as popular.
One local said: ‘You certainly wouldn’t think it looked like this from the outside and it is certainly out of keeping from the rest of the street and the area.
‘It seems very popular and there’s always people going in and out.
‘People visiting Southport won’t know the area so will see the photos and not realise it’s down a back street.
‘It’s a great location for the promenade, bars and restaurants so people staying for a couple of days probably won’t mind where it is.
‘Flats on this street normally sell for £70,000 to £80,000 but they are obviously not as flashy as this one.’
Another resident said: ‘It’s certainly not to my taste. It’s a bit over-the-top.
‘I doubt anyone will pay that kind of money for the place.
‘There are nicer areas of Southport to choose from if someone is spending so much.’
Natural light in the property is a scarce commodity in most rooms
Guests at the Airbnb are able to recline in leather chairs while they wait for their washing to be done
One local added: ‘You’d be mad to buy the place.
‘You can’t even park outside because of the double yellow lines.
‘The decor is excessive to say the least.’
On one popular property commentary site, reviews were decidedly less flattering however.
One commenter stated: ‘Normally in these situations, I’d suggest looking at the virtual tour.
‘However, I’ve just done that and now I want to set fire to my eyeballs and live a blind, tree-based existence as far away from Southport as possible.’
‘I don’t usually get migraines, but about 3 pictures in I felt one coming on’, another said.