A retired couple poured everything they had into transforming a once dilapidated eight-bedroom mansion. Now the disco party house looks unrecognisable and bookings to stay there are through the roof
A couple have transformed a drab and derelict 140-year-old mansion into one of Northumberland’s most booked Airbnb’s, complete with a ‘disco kitchen’.
When retired duo Joanne Shiels, 60 and Geoff Bell, 61, bought the property it was practically crumbling with no windows, no heating and a roof littered with holes – but now the once abandoned eight-bed mansion is unrecognisable.
The couple snapped up Greystonedale Mansion for £300,0000 in May 2022 and spent two years pouring love and £220,000 into bringing it back to life. The property, which had been empty for over 30 years, has now been transformed into a dazzling party house, fitted with its very own disco kitchen, pool table, games room and oak panelled study. It even has its own replanted one-acre garden.
It was originally supposed to be Joanne and Geoff’s forever home, but after living there for a year they realised it was too big for two – so they listed it on Airbnb. It’s the perfect pad for hen dos, stag weekends and big family gatherings and Joanne is considering hosting weddings in the future.
Now worth £1m, the restored pad has already become a viral hit on Channel 4’s Renovation Nation. The couple had been dreaming of their forever home and when Joanne first set eyes on the mansion, she was hooked. “I just fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. It felt like a doll’s house,” Joanne says.
But what was supposed to be their dream pad turned out to be a whole lot more work than they imagined. “The place had no electricity, no gas, no windows, and holes in the roof that needed patching up. It was a bit of a ruin, to say the least,” Joanne recalls.
The renovation took two years. During that time, they lived in a caravan while spending £220,000 transforming the place from the ground up. “We had to replace or upgrade pretty much everything. We replaced ceilings, added fancy plasterwork, and added two new bathrooms. There was a lot of work to be done, but it was worth it in the end,” she says.
Joanne, a former social worker, took a hands-on approach and kept the budget tight. “I’m a recycler — everything in the house is second-hand. My kitchens, bathrooms, as much as it can be. Even the plants in the garden are second-hand,” she says.
The house is bursting with quirky features, like the disco kitchen and a spacious games room. “It was always about celebrating life, even when we were building it,” says Joanne. “That’s what I wanted when we started this. I wanted people to come in and feel like they could have fun.”
After living there for a year, the couple realised the space was just too much for two. “We absolutely loved having our family over, but it was just too big for two people,” Joanne admits. “When we turned the heating on, it was like switching on a jet engine. We just didn’t need all that space.”
So, they listed it on Airbnb and the bookings took off. “We’ve had hen dos, stag parties, family gatherings… you name it,” says Joanne. “It was slow at first, but in the last few months, it’s gone a bit crazy. It’s mostly booked up through summer and into Christmas.”
To make things more manageable, they moved out of the main house and into a small cottage they built at the back. “Now we have our cottage in the back, and it’s perfect. We get the best of both worlds,” Joanne said
One of their proudest transformations is the garden. “When we bought it, there was only one tree left. No grass, no plants – just a big, empty space,” she explained. Now, the one-acre garden is full of colour and life, providing a lush backdrop for celebrations. “It’s a beautiful place to just relax and enjoy.”
As bookings roll in, Joanne and Geoff are thinking ahead. “We’ve got big plans for the outside – we’ll be adding little touches here and there,” says Joanne. “We’re even considering hosting weddings in the future.”
What started as an derelict mansion has now become one of Northumberland’s most popular party venues. Joanne and Geoff have turned a forgotten property into a stunning celebration space.
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