Darren Summers bagged the £3.5 million mansion in Cornwall in an Omaze competition, declaring “the drinks are on me” when he was told he was the winner.
A barman who won a multi million pound luxe home in a lottery draw has listed the lush mansion for sale just weeks after collecting the keys.
Darren Summers bagged the £3.5 million mansion in Cornwall in an Omaze competition, declaring “the drinks are on me” when he was told he was the winner. But just a few weeks after getting the win, the pub man has decided it is not for him and has listed the home for sale.
The 50-year-old was pouring pints during a busy shift when the Omaze team walked in to tell him he’d won the spectacular new clifftop home.
He said at the time he was planning to enjoy a “summer of barbecues” in the luxury abode but has almost instantly put the beachfront property on the market. Its listing was published yesterday (Wednesday) with a guide price of £3.5million.
The potential sale comes just two months since Darren was announced as the winner of the four-bedroom contemporary property.
He said: “We’ve spent the most incredible summer of our lives living at the house, we’ve made amazing memories with friends and family that we’ll treasure forever.
“Because Omaze gives you the house mortgage-free and £250,000 in cash, we knew we could have stayed for as long as we wanted without ever worrying about costs. “But we’ve decided to sell up and bank the cash as the money from the sale is truly life-changing for us.
“We’re both going to retire early, which is the best feeling in the world – having the time and the money to enjoy it is the greatest gift imaginable.
“We’ve both fallen in love with life by the sea, so we’re going to use the money from the sale to buy a slightly smaller place of our own on the coast here in the UK, and treat ourselves to a beach holiday home in Europe too – we just adore living by the sand and water. I’ve worked in hospitality my whole life but never in a million years dreamt I’d have a place to call my own.
“But now I can – the plan is to maybe invest in a bar or restaurant, here or abroad, and bring in a team to run it for me. It’s something I’m truly passionate about – we might even call it Bar Omaze! Turning £20 into millions is still hard to get my head around – our new home will be ours outright.
“I can start my own business, and we’ll still have plenty left over for the rainiest of days. Winning with Omaze has completely transformed our lives in ways we thought impossible, and we couldn’t be more grateful.”
The coastal retreat, which also comes with a heated outdoor swimming pool and a hot tub, was won by Darren for £20 as part of his Omaze subscription.
He proudly posed for pictures there with his family as they sat enjoying the panoramic sea views above Downderry Beach.
The listing for the sale described it as available to buy “fully-furnished” with no onward chain and described “bold architecture, breathtaking sea views, garden room and summerhouse and landscaped terraced gardens with sculptures.”
It added: “A striking four bedroomed, 4 bathroom contemporary house in an extraordinary clifftop position above Downderry, with uninterrupted views across the sea and along the coast.
“Its bold architecture, superbly designed interiors and exceptional gardens with heated swimming pool and terraces combine to create a very special coastal property.”
Darren manages a pub in his hometown of Rhondda Fawr valley, South Wales, while his wife of eight years, Rebecca, 36, works as a Healthcare Support Assistant at the NHS.
He said at the time of his win: “The house looks like somewhere a movie star would live, it’s absolutely breathtaking. We’re going to have an awesome summer down here.
“We love big get-togethers with all our family and friends, and this place is the ultimate house for hosting. We’ll be throwing BBQs by the pool all summer. We’ve got nieces and nephews so I think we’ll be the favourite auntie and uncle now thanks to this place!”
On hearing the news, he said: “First thing I said was, if anyone wants a pint, the drinks are literally on the house tonight.”
The luxurious property came mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered and Darren also got £250,000 in cash to help him settle in. The couple are now set for a further large cash windfall after having lived in their current three-bedroom house for three years.
Darren added: “I was in the middle of pouring pints during a busy shift behind the bar when Omaze rang. I eventually picked up but when they said I’d won a prize I thought, yeah right, hung up and just carried on working.
“Then my colleague said there was a film crew outside, and that’s when I thought this might actually be real. Then the next thing I know I’m the owner of a £3.5 million house in Cornwall!
“To say I was shocked is an understatement, they’ll have to bleep my reaction as I couldn’t help but eff and jeff! I called my wife straightaway, but she didn’t believe me, she had no idea I’d even entered, so she was doubly surprised. She was totally gobsmacked.”
Darren continued: “It wasn’t your average shift, that’s for sure, I sometimes get the odd half of beer bought for me, so a £3.5 million house is definitely my biggest tip ever. Winning does mean I can call last orders on any money worries and retire early.”
The listed home comes with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening directly onto a coastal dining terrace and the heated swimming pool beyond, all framed by uninterrupted sea views.
Spanning 3,425 sq ft across two floors, the ground floor features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a home office, a main bedroom with en suite and a second bedroom with shower room. The lower ground floor offers a generous lounge and two further en suite bedrooms.
Outside, the property sits within just over an acre of grounds with the heated swimming pool, a wood-lined barrel hot tub and a sculpture garden featuring ten original artworks. A driveway provides ample parking and an electric car charging point.
The announcement of the quick sale prompted a number of comments on Reddit. One posted: “The new owner must have only got the keys yesterday and listed straight away!
“I’d probably do the same although you could easily earn £200,000 a year from it as a high-end holiday let.”