Strange Tales
Pommie pub a real selling pint in Chirnside Park
04Aug08
Dave Kebbell of Chirnsie Park only needs to step outside his backdoor and walk several metres to his local watering hole 'The Pied Piper'. Pic. Steve Tanner
CAN'T afford a trip to England, or simply want to avoid the 2am lockout?
Then Dave Kebbell might have the answer - buy his Chirnside Park house and get your very own English pub with views of the Yarra Valley included in the price.
Mr Kebbell, an expatriate Londoner, purchased the Hollyoak Haven property five years ago from another British man.
"The gentleman I purchased the house from told me he had a dream one night that he wanted an English pub, so he built it," he said.
"A lot of my mates, especially ones back in the UK, when I told them about it, thought it would be tacky but they walk in here and their jaws drop to the floor."
Built into the back of the garage, Mr Kebbell said the bar could fit up to 30 people comfortably and had all the features one would expect of an English pub a dartboard, obligatory picture of the Queen, and a television suitable for watching the cricket, soccer or rugby.
In addition to being a great space for a few beers with mates, Mr Kebbell said the pub helped him when he felt homesick.
"When I miss England which doesn't happen very often these days I can come in here and feel like I'm back at home," he said.
Stockdale and Leggo Croydon agent Naiomi Bentley said the pub was an unusual feature, but was likely to appeal to buyers. "It's one thing that sets it apart from every other three-bedroom house in the area a couple who I've had through were English loved it it's very authentic," she said.
Mr Kebbell said while he was reluctantly selling to move closer to his work in the city, he was making some measurements and taking a closer look at how the pub was built.
"This is something I would love to be able to do in the future," he said.
