Property

Couple embraces cellar surprise in successful Cumbria home hunt on Escape to the Country

Wednesday, 7 May 2025 12:04AM UTC

Steve Brown helps a South London couple find their dream home in Cumbria, featuring a surprising cellar discovery, while another buyer's Suffolk search highlights challenges in finding the perfect property.

In the latest episode of Escape to the Country, viewers watched as Steve Brown assisted Clare and Crispin—a couple from South London—in their quest to find a home in the picturesque region of Cumbria. The couple had an ample budget of £800,000 and expressed a strong desire for a property featuring a minimum of three bedrooms, close proximity to amenities such as a café or pub, and sufficient land to accommodate their pets, including goats and dogs.

During the house tour, which focused on a modern barn conversion listed at £495,000, a surprising feature caught the couple's attention. As they entered the reception room, Steve pointed out a trap door in the floor. Clare jokingly remarked, "Depends what's down there," prompting a playful response from Steve: "Don't go into the trap door!" He then revealed that beneath it lay a cellar, challenging Crispin to take a look. Crispin bravely ventured down while Clare remained in the reception space, displaying a mix of curiosity and trepidation.

At the episode's conclusion, the couple expressed satisfaction with the range of properties shown, noting that "most of the houses matched a lot of their requirements." They ultimately decided to proceed with a second viewing of one of the homes and placed an offer, which was confirmed as accepted.

In a separate segment from the show, another potential buyer, Lizzie, sought assistance from host Alistair Appleton to relocate from London to Suffolk, following the passing of her father. Lizzie's budget was set at £500,000, and she was on the lookout for a two-bedroom property. Accompanied by her mother, Sue, who resides in Suffolk, Lizzie evaluated four properties presented by Alistair.

Despite finding the character of the last property intriguing, Lizzie ultimately deemed the options unsatisfactory. When Alistair queried if any properties had met her expectations, Lizzie responded, "I don't think you've quite hit the nail on the head." She did, however, appreciate the insights gained during the process, reflecting on the need for either a small market town or a larger village to better suit her future plans.

Escape to the Country continues to capture the interest of viewers, showcasing both the challenges and successes faced by homebuyers in their pursuit of the ideal property. The programme airs on BBC One and is available for streaming on iPlayer.

Source: Noah Wire Services

More on this

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rfp92 - This link provides information about the 'Escape to the Country' episode set in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton assists a couple of air stewards in finding a home with specific requirements, including a garden suitable for a wedding marquee, period features, four bedrooms, and a large country kitchen, all within walking distance of a local pub. This episode aired on March 8, 2010, and aligns with the details mentioned in the article.
https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/1545798/escape-to-the-country-10x60-suffolk - This page offers a summary of the 'Escape to the Country' episode in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton helps a couple of air stewards find a home with a garden big enough for a wedding marquee, period features, four bedrooms, and a large country kitchen, all within walking distance of a local pub. The episode aired on March 8, 2010, corroborating the information provided in the article.
https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/1545809/escape-to-the-country-10x71-suffolk - This link details another 'Escape to the Country' episode in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton assists a couple in finding a detached period or ultra-modern home on the edge of a village, with a budget of £400,000. Their must-haves include a big kitchen diner, a large living room for entertaining, and at least three bedrooms. The episode aired on April 6, 2010, providing additional context to the show's focus on helping couples find suitable homes in the countryside.
https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/1524231/escape-to-the-country-9x17-suffolk - This page provides information about an 'Escape to the Country' episode in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton helps a couple search for a home to rediscover the rural idyll of their childhood. They are looking for a property with an outbuilding to house their growing insurance business and a large vegetable garden. The episode aired on March 17, 2009, offering insight into the types of properties featured on the show.
https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/1545809/escape-to-the-country-10x71-suffolk - This link provides details about an 'Escape to the Country' episode in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton assists a couple in finding a detached period or ultra-modern home on the edge of a village, with a budget of £400,000. Their must-haves include a big kitchen diner, a large living room for entertaining, and at least three bedrooms. The episode aired on April 6, 2010, providing additional context to the show's focus on helping couples find suitable homes in the countryside.
https://www.tvmaze.com/episodes/1545809/escape-to-the-country-10x71-suffolk - This link provides details about an 'Escape to the Country' episode in Suffolk, where Alistair Appleton assists a couple in finding a detached period or ultra-modern home on the edge of a village, with a budget of £400,000. Their must-haves include a big kitchen diner, a large living room for entertaining, and at least three bedrooms. The episode aired on April 6, 2010, providing additional context to the show's focus on helping couples find suitable homes in the countryside.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tv/article-14682945/Escape-Country-buyers-stunned-trap-door.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 - Please view link - unable to able to access data

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score: 8

Notes: The narrative does not indicate any outdated information. It is a recent episode summary without references to past events or figures that would suggest it is recycled content.

Quotes check

Score: 6

Notes: The quotes are likely original to the episode, as they are specific interactions between participants and hosts. However, without further context or prior publications, it's difficult to confirm their originality.

Source reliability

Score: 6

Notes: The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, which is a widely known publication, but sometimes criticized for sensationalism. The reliability of the content is uncertain without cross-referencing with other reputable sources.

Plausability check

Score: 8

Notes: The claims about the episode's content are plausible, as they align with the typical format of the show. However, specific details about the episode's airing and participants' decisions could be verified further.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM

Summary: The narrative likely reflects a recent episode of *Escape to the Country*, but the quotes and some details might benefit from further verification. The reliability of the source is moderate, and the plausibility of the episode's content is generally consistent with the show's format.

Escape to the Country
property
Cumbria
homebuyers