Wendy Perera, the Isle of Wight council’s CEO, has acknowledged local interest in the Ventnor Winter Gardens site and told OnTheWight that she is willing to broker discussions between the property’s owner and the community.
Mrs Perera confirmed that while the site’s ownership has been in private hands for over a decade, and there are no ongoing restrictions that the council is required to oversee, it remains open to supporting conversations regarding the building’s future.
Freehold sold in 2013
The then-Conservative Isle of Wight council sold the freehold of the Grade II* listed Ventnor Winter Gardens in January 2013 for £1 to owners of The Hambrough Group, Kevin Sussmilch of Wight House Limited.
At the time, the sale included a number of conditions, but all were subject to time restrictions. These conditions have now lapsed.
The venue was open to the public for just over a decade, but has fallen into severe disrepair and now sits looking derelict on the Ventnor clifftop.
Review of buy-back condition
In December 2014, the council’s Property Sub Committee reviewed whether it could enforce a buy-back condition. Surveys were conducted to assess whether the owner had fulfilled their planned works.
The report concluded that the owner had completed the works substantially enough that the council was not legally able to invoke the buy-back option. Mr Sussmilch claimed that he had spent £1.2m on the works.
2014 inspection confirmed works completed
Following an on-site inspection on 20th November 2014, the council confirmed that several improvements had been made in accordance with Phase 1 of the proposal submitted by the Hambrough Group.
The inspection reported that repairs and redecoration had been carried out on three elevations—South, East, and West. Cracks in the render had been repaired and repainted, though it was noted that due to the exposure of the South and East elevations, further work would likely be needed within six months. Broken glazing had been replaced, and window frames repaired where necessary.
Water damage
A roof leak that had caused internal and external damage to the staircase tower was addressed with the replacement of the roof finish and redecoration. However, due to the poor detailing of the original design, the report warned that ongoing maintenance would likely be required.
According to the report, the ground floor restaurant, including a bar, kitchen and preparation area, appeared largely complete, leading onto an outside terrace with seating. The first-floor restaurant was in progress, with new bar facilities, renovated walls, new carpeting, and upgraded lighting. The external terrace was awaiting a new railing system before further works could continue.
‘Substantial’ renovations in the auditorium
The auditorium had undergone ‘substantial renovations’ following severe water ingress from a damaged roof. The roof was repaired, the wooden floor lifted, dried and re-laid, and the walls dried and repainted.
The report noted a lingering damp smell, but stated this would dissipate with further drying and airing. The lighting system in the auditorium had also been replaced and upgraded.
In 2022, Storm Beatrice caused damage to the roof, which has once again become the subject of water ingress. By February 2025, the roof is still unrepaired whilst the owners await insurance payout.
The report from 2014 noted that entrance foyer saw ‘significant renovations’, including floor repairs, new carpeting, and wall redecoration. The reception area, box office, and cloakroom had been improved but remained in their original locations rather than the new positions outlined in Planning Application P/01802/11. The report indicated that these changes, as well as floor level adjustments, would take place once further extensions and reconfiguration works commenced.
Covenants expired in 2022
The original transfer documents included conditions related to the site’s use, such as the requirement for community access to the auditorium. These covenants had a fixed end date of 31st August 2022.
Since that date, there are no longer any enforceable conditions attached to the property. The council say they are not required to monitor the site’s use.
Planned developments for the site
When the property was sold to Kevin Sussmilch for £1, a series of improvements and developments were planned. These included the creation of two restaurants, one on the ground floor with 66 covers and another on the first floor with 80 covers. The ground floor restaurant was intended to lead to an outdoor terrace with additional seating.
To accommodate these changes, the front elevation of the building was planned to be extended in an Art Deco style, retaining the character of the existing pavilion. The extensions were to be painted grey to highlight the original structure, featuring Sedum roofs and steel-framed windows matching the original design.
Additional upgrades were to include better access to the bar, new toilet facilities, an enlarged foyer, a new reception and box office, and improved sound and thermal insulation throughout. Plans also included a hard-wired induction loop in the main auditorium, a new performance lighting system, and the removal of existing gas heaters in favour of a new centralised heating system.
The main entrance, located in the southwest corner, was to remain unchanged, leading into a wide entrance hall incorporating a reception, cloakroom, and customer toilets.
The plans to convert the venue into a 37-bedroomed hotel never materialised.
Wight House Limited
Wight House Limited, the company that owns the freehold, is currently listed with Companies House as a dormant company.
There have been four incidents of ‘compulsory strike-off action’ against the company. Three were discontinued, but in 2021 the company was dissolved and the owner had to apply for administrative restoration.
The company has declared fixed assets of £13,774 every year since July 2014 until 2022 when it increased to £13,775. The latest micro accounts (in September 2024) show that in December 2023 there were net liabilities of just over £3,000.
Kevin Sussmilch is also the director and secretary for a number of other companies, including Wight Cliff Limited, a company registered in the “Licensed clubs” category.
Review of documents did not lead to a report
A request from Councillor Joe Robertson in August 2022 for a review of the arrangements involved a reassessment of the council’s documentation, but did not result in a formal report.
Before August 2022, any concerns about potential breaches would have been investigated under the council’s enforcement procedures. However, with the covenants now expired, there are no ongoing restrictions that the council is required to oversee.
The council’s CEO, Wendy Perera, has told OnTheWight that she remains open to supporting discussions between the owners and the local community should interest in the site’s future continue.
Questions to the owner
OnTheWight put several questions to Mr Sussmilch about the property and his plans.
However, more than 24 hours later he had still not responded. We will update the article once we hear back.
The documents
OnTheWight have embedded for your convenience all the relevant documents relating to decisions about the Ventnor Winter Gardens, including the unredacted contract .
