Golf Loving Couple Relocate to Discover Tight-Knit Village Community in Cranbrook

For many house-hunters looking to relocate from their current neighbourhood, community is one of the top priorities. When Neil (76) and Carol Marshall (64) decided to move out of their Surrey home and relocate further afield earlier this year, they discovered Cranbrook in Kent was everything they were looking for and more. With a bustling village, beautiful countryside and spectacular golf clubs all on the doorstep, the golf-loving retirees chose a new three-bedroom home at Berkeley’s Farmstead development.

Seeking a Change: Moving Away from Surrey

Prior to relocating to Cranbrook, Neil and Carol were living in a three-bedroom property in Merstham, Surrey. After living there for 20 years, they were really keen for a change and wanted to move away from the London suburbs. Carol says: We began our property search in early 2024 after deciding that the furthest we would look was Billingshurst in Sussex. But, after speaking to a friend at a dinner party who recommended Farmstead, we thought we would extend our search to Cranbrook.”

Falling in Love With Cranbrook and Farmstead

The town of Cranbrook is just a short 15 minute walk from Farmstead, a trip that the couple regularly enjoys together. Carol adds: “As soon as we drove into Farmstead, we knew we’d found our new home. Not only were the houses beautiful, but the village location was something that really appealed to us. Since moving in, we’ve enjoyed exploring our new surroundings. 

"Since retiring I’ve taken up art, and I’ve managed to get three pieces of artwork in the village’s local gallery which I’m thrilled with! Neil and I have both found a new hairdressers, a doctor’s surgery and chemist all within easy walking distance in Cranbrook village. We have everything we need in the village; coffee shops, wine bars, charity shops and a Co-Op that sells local produce. We’re also regular visitors to Hartley Farm Shop which has a tremendous display of fresh local produce, a fishmonger, meat and deli counters.”

Neil commented: “The week we moved in, we set ourselves a mission to find the best country pubs in the area. We found the best one for a Sunday roast and the best one to take the grandchildren to, all on our doorstep. We also love the Greek and Indian restaurants in Cranbrook village – we’re spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a place for morning coffee, lunch and dinner options!”

Carol adds: “There’s always something going on in Cranbrook. Along with the countryside and lovely views to explore, the village regularly hosts community events and village fairs which we enjoy attending. I’m looking forward to visiting Tenterden’s Christmas markets later this year too.”

Neil and Carol enjoy playing golf, and they are thrilled that there is an award-winning golf club on their doorstep. Neil comments: “One of our favourite pastimes is playing golf together. At the moment I’m still a member at our previous golf club in Surrey, but Carol has joined Tenterden Golf Club which is only a 15 minute drive away from Farmstead. During the summer, my 1.5-hour drive back to Surrey hasn’t seemed too bad, but I think during the winter months with the darker evenings I may be tempted to become a member at Tenterden too.”

Neil and Carol are enjoying being surrounded by the Kentish countryside in their new home. Neil says: “Although we don’t currently have a dog, there are so many options for dog walkers in the area! We have lots of National Trust estates surrounding us, including Sissinghurst Gardens which is under 10 minutes’ drive away. We’re close to the Sussex coast here too – Winchelsea and Rye are both within easy reach, which has been especially lovely in the summer months.”

Speaking of their new community, Carol comments: “We actually bought the showhome as we fell in love with it. One of the main things we loved about Farmstead was it’s a very small, gated development of only 28 houses, and much smaller than other developments we looked at. It feels really exclusive and private, and we’re surrounded by fields with beautiful views. It attracts a lot of downsizers a similar age to us, and we’ve already enjoyed a meal with a couple of our new neighbours and as time goes on we’re looking forward to getting to know more fellow owners.”

A Smooth Move With Berkeley’s MovePlus Scheme

The couple chose to use Berkeley’s MovePlus scheme to ease the stresses of moving. Neil says: “When the Farmstead sales team told us about MovePlus, we liked the sound of it. Essentially it allows you to hold your chosen property for six weeks whilst Berkeley’s local agents put your current home on the market, in the hope that it will sell in this timeframe. We were really lucky that one of our agents called us before our home went on the open market as they had a buyer who was interested. They viewed our home, and it was sold within the six weeks! The process was seamless.”

Carol concludes: “The whole process from start to finish with Berkeley Group was fantastic, we can’t praise them enough. From the team that initially showed us around the development to the sales team who encouraged us to engage MovePlus, everyone was brilliant. The staff were professional and responsive, and we got regular updates on the position of our sale and purchase. We felt really secure, so we would definitely recommend buying with Berkeley Homes and, if appropriate, using MovePlus to anyone.”

Farmstead is a boutique collection of just 28 private three and four bedroom houses in Cranbrook, Kent. Find out more about Farmstead today.