Chesters

Season 1, Episode 3 of Country House Rescue featured Chesters Estate: a beautiful home located along the Scottish border. The owner inherited it from his grandfather, and he and his wife wanted to be able to move from London into the house. However, it costs approximately 20,000 pounds a year to maintain Chesters, and needs tons of work done to it, as much of it is completely dilapidated. It's a grade 1 listed house ~ which means that it has never been altered or added on to ~ and therefore it is seen as a national treasure, and if they want to re-do things in the house or on the grounds, they would have to have the approval of historic societies for materials they use, etc. Everything has to be completely authentic and approved in order to keep it the treasure it is.
The owner's wife (Ellie) had wanted to re-do the stable block and turn it into an acting school, but to do that would cost too much money. The owner (John) then wanted to re-do the dairy barns and make them into a brewery, but that would also prove to cost too much money, and not have a guaranteed successful income. So, they decided to use the main house and do the acting school idea there, using the attics for a place for the guests to lodge. The trial of this was successful, but in one year they would only bring it approximately 20,000 pounds from it, which was just enough to keep the place running. So they needed more. Ruth Watson then suggested doing day rentals with the house. Various corporations rent homes like this one, and use them as a location to hold seminars, trainings, skill building lectures, etc. From this, they could get between 800 to a 1000 pounds per day (often just for a few hours of use). In the end, this is what they decided to do, and it was a huge success!

In fact, it's been such a great success that they've been able to make Chesters thrive, including being able to do an acting school, and John even now has his brewery! They also opened up private access to the river on their property (River Teviot) for fishing, and have a secret garden opened for "glamping" (posh camping)! They have a website now, and on it you can see all of the things that Chesters offers.