Etonian property tycoon put enormous Bantham Estate put on market for £30 million

The Bantham Estate is reportedly being put on the market for around £30 million, up from £11.5 million in 2014.

News of the sale is according to the Daily Mail, although the Estate is yet to formally confirm it. The 760 acre-estate includes agricultural land, woodland, grassland and sand dunes as well as the famous Bantham beach.

The Estate’s properties, many of which are Grade II listed, include houses and cottages in the village, the village shop, several boathouses and Bigbury Golf Course. The Estate is also responsible for managing the river Avon estuary that runs through its land.

Etonian property Tycoon Nicholas Johnston bought the seaside estate next for £11.5 million back in 2014, and soon stoked anger amongst locals after unveiling plans to develop the estate, submitting planning applications for a sunken beach club, a gym, cafe, swimming pool, an underground car park and a boat restoration yard, along with 16 new family homes for sale and rent.

Also included in the sale is the Bantham Estate Vineyard. After being planted in 2021, the vineyard has gone on to win a medal at the 2024 WineGB Awards for its Pinot Gris.

Mr Johnston also owns Great Tew in Oxfordshire, a 4,000-acre estate in Oxfordshire that hosts the annual Cornbury Festival, nicknamed 'Poshstock', an apparent favourite of former prime minister Lord David Cameron.

A spokesperson for the Johnstones has said: “The Bantham Estate has been owned by Nicholas and Saskia Johnston for the last ten years during which time they, and their children, have enjoyed the beauty and custodianship of this wonderful property.

“Having had several approaches from other potential buyers of the estate over the years, and being primarily based in Oxfordshire, Nicholas and Saskia have decided to allow Strutt & Parker and Savills a limited marketing period of the estate.”