After more than forty years in their well-kept mid-terrace in Coulsdon, Surrey, London black-cab driver Les Beale and his wife Barbara began looking for a smaller home. Rising household bills and heating costs pushed them to downsize from their extended four-bed, two-bath property—but every two-bed they viewed locally came with a hefty price tag.
Casting the net wider, they accepted an invitation to an Open Day at Castle View Court in Pevensey Bay on the Sussex coast, just north of elegant Eastbourne. “We thought it would be a pleasant day out,” says Les, who worked as a service manager for a print-machine manufacturer before taking to the road. “But Castle View was a revelation—the location was incredible. The village is on one side, the Harbour shopping centre on the other, and the beach is right across the road. We knew immediately this was where we wanted to live.”
Les, who still drives his taxi in Central London five days a week, chose a fully furnished 40×20 Omar Regency park home with a classic exterior and a sleek, modern kitchen with all appliances, moving in this May. With support from EKOS Homes, the couple tailored the layout—opting for a south-facing plot, adding a utility room, and fitting patio doors that open onto decking. “David and the EKOS team—Joe and Lisa included—were brilliant and helped us shape the home to our needs,” Les says.
Having spent five years mastering The Knowledge—the black-cab driver’s famed training involving 465 intricate routes—Les appreciates how easy life feels at Castle View Court. “Everyone here is lovely, and I’m reassured that if Barbara ever needs a hand while I’m in the city, there are plenty of neighbours to ask. It’s a like-minded community that’s growing into something special.” Their two sons and the grandchildren visit often. “They think we’ve made the right move—and the grandkids can’t get enough of the beach and the local historic spots.”
The next Open Days at Castle View Court are Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October, 10am to 4pm.