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May 06, 2023

Alice in Wonderland superfan spends £130,000 turning homes into Lewis Carroll paradise

Jacqueline Sinclair, a self-confessed 'Lewis Carroll nerd', has even fitted the

Jacqueline Sinclair, a self-confessed 'Lewis Carroll nerd', has even fitted the property in Brighton, East Sussex, with costumes, teacup stools and Cheshire cat stained glass windows

A mother spent £130,000 transforming two homes into Alice in Wonderland themed-rentals - because she's a self-confessed "Lewis Carroll nerd".

Jacqueline Sinclair, 45, has fit both properties with costumes, teacup stools and Cheshire cat-stained glass windows.

She bought the first property for £230,000 after getting fed up with juggling her corporate job in business travel and being a mother.

And the mum of three knew she needed a unique feature to make it stand out as a holiday property in the popular seaside destination.

She decided to use her passion for Lewis Carroll and transform the cottage into an Alice and Wonderland-inspired stay – fit with teaspoon handles, teacup chandeliers and playing card wallpaper.

"I’m a Lewis Carroll nerd," Jacqueline, from Brighton, said.

"My big passion is Victorian Alice and Wonderland.

"Everybody told me it was a terrible idea. It was high risk but now who's laughing.

"It worked so well."

Despite being told it was a "terrible idea", bookings started flying in and Jaqueline decided to redecorate a regency house she had previously been letting out to students and turn it into a unique holiday let.

Jacqueline splashed out £100,000, creating rooms with bespoke furniture such as bunk beds as playing cards and teapot taps.

The Looking Glass cottage sleeps up to eight guests and prices range from £203 to £430 per night.

Jacqueline bought ‘the looking glass cottage’ in 2011 for £230,000 after struggling to manage a 10-hour working week alongside being a mum.

Her idea was to rent out the property to allow her to have some extra income to go part-time.

But after realising she needed to do something unique to stand out in the busy holiday let market, she decided to decorate the cottage in a whimsical Alice and Wonderland theme.

Jacqueline spent four months decking out the property before becoming inundated with bookings – which allowed her to quit her job in 2011.

A year later she decided to make a student property she already owned into another storybook-inspired rental.

She said: "I had a regency house I previously owned as a student rental.

"It needed £70,000 spent on it anyway so I decided to also do it up as an Alice and Wonderland theme."

Jacqueline spent £100,000 getting creative in the five-storey house fit with six bedrooms a lounge, dining room, two kitchens, three shower rooms and a toilet.

She said: "There is a magic table that twinkles and changes colour.

"Nothing beats the enchanted dining room.

"It's a place that takes a second and third look to find hidden things."

Jacqueline named the regency house ‘the Wonderland House’ – which sleeps up to 24 guests - and ranges from £600 to £1,600 per night.

The house also has costumes and holds hen parties for the "bride mad about Alice and Wonderland".

Jacqueline said she visits and stays in the houses all the time with her kids who "love" the theme.

She hopes to expand and bring her Alice and Wonderland unique stays to other towns across the UK.

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