Not only has the “Broadchurch effect” shaken up TV schedules and made a star of the Dorset coastline patrolled by detectives Hardy and Miller, it’s also raised house prices in the picturesque area by as much as 50%.
Why anyone would want to live in a town stuffed with grumpy shopkeepers, sleazy priests and families at each other’s throat (and a possible paedophile still on the prowl), Monkey cannot begin to understand. (Just wait till an episode is forced to reveal it does actually rain in Dorset, then watch the tourists turn away.)
Nevertheless, hotel searches to West Bay, Dorset, have also seen an increase of 50%, according to research conducted by Hotels.com.
Ardent fans not put off by the ITV show’s sinister plot can also live their dream of pretending to be an obtuse Scottish detective with a heart condition – by buying his blue waterfront chalet.
Britbank, a 100-year-old two bedroom wooden property on the banks of the River Brit is to go on the market on Monday. The owner is asking for offers of around £275,000 – a pretty penny for a glorified shed, in Monkey’s humble opinion.
Malcolm Gill, who is handling the sale for estate agents Lyme Coast Holidays, told the Telegraph that the “Broadchurch effect” would have pushed up the price.
“It’s impossible to quantify but I would say it has probably benefited from an uplift of between £25,000 and £50,000,” he said.
“We have tried to price it fairly and sensibly without being greedy and I think the owner will be pleasantly surprised to achieve the asking price.”
Pleasantly surprised indeed, as he laughs all the way to the bank. Though maybe the new owner could rent out the chalet to the show’s producers for the third series, and make some of their money back?
