A barman has won a £3.5 million mansion in Cornwall and celebrated by declaring "drinks are on the house." Darren Summers was pouring pints during a busy shift when the Omaze team walked in to tell him he had won a spectacular new clifftop home. The 50-year-old is now the owner of a four-bedroom contemporary property set within an acre of the stunning Downderry Beach. The house comes complete with panoramic sea views, a heated outdoor swimming pool, and a hot tub.
A Life-Changing Moment
Darren, who bought his winning entry for just £20 as part of his Omaze subscription, manages a pub in his hometown of Rhondda Fawr valley in South Wales. His wife of eight years, Rebecca, works as a Healthcare Support Assistant at the NHS. On hearing the news, he said: "First thing I said was, if anyone wants a pint, the drinks are literally on the house tonight."
The luxurious property comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, and Darren has also received £250,000 in cash to help him settle in. The couple have lived in their current three-bedroom house for three years.
Shock and Disbelief
"I was in the middle of pouring pints during a busy shift behind the bar when Omaze rang," Darren explained. "I eventually picked up but when they said I’d won a prize I thought, yeah right, hung up and just carried on working. Then my colleague said there was a film crew outside, and that's when I thought this might actually be real. Then the next thing I know I'm the owner of a £3.5 million house in Cornwall!"
He continued: "To say I was shocked is an understatement, they'll have to bleep my reaction as I couldn't help but eff and jeff! I called my wife straightaway, but she didn't believe me, she had no idea I’d even entered, so she was doubly surprised. She was totally gobsmacked."
Darren went on: "It wasn't your average shift, that's for sure, I sometimes get the odd half of beer bought for me, so a £3.5 million house is definitely my biggest tip ever. Winning does mean I can call last orders on any money worries and retire early."
Stunning Features
Darren's new home comes with floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening directly onto a coastal dining terrace and the heated swimming pool beyond, all framed by uninterrupted sea views. Spanning 3,425 sq ft across two floors, the ground floor features an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area, a home office, a main bedroom with en suite, and a second bedroom with shower room. The lower ground floor offers a generous lounge and two further en suite bedrooms.
Outside, the property sits within just over an acre of grounds with the heated swimming pool, a wood-lined barrel hot tub, and a sculpture garden featuring ten original artworks. A driveway provides ample parking and an electric car charging point.
A Dream Come True
"The house looks like somewhere a movie star would live, it's absolutely breathtaking," Darren added. "We've always wanted to go to Cornwall but neither of us have ever been before. We thought maybe we'd come here camping one day, but now we'll be staying in our very own mansion, it's hard to get your head around it, it's so crazy!"
He added: "We're going to have an awesome summer down here. We love big get-togethers with all our family and friends, and this place is the ultimate house for hosting. We'll be throwing BBQs by the pool all summer. We've got nieces and nephews so I think we’ll be the favourite auntie and uncle now thanks to this place!"
Personal Touches
Darren said he had just come back from Turkey where he was getting his teeth done, but said the temporary teeth broke last week. He quipped: "Otherwise I’d have an even bigger smile on my face right now. I’m meant to be going back next week to get them finished, but I could afford to get them done in the UK now."
On what the win means, Darren said: "We're a really close family, we've always worked hard and tried to get what we can out of life with what we have. But this win has changed everything, all the pressure and money worries have disappeared overnight. Myself and my brothers, us three boys, lost our mum and dad when we were young, so we only had each other growing up, so we're very close. Rebecca has lost her father and family members in the last couple of years as well. It felt like we were getting nothing but bad news recently, but this life-changing win has come at just the right time for us and for our family."
Charity Partnership
Omaze partnered in the draw with Eden Project, an educational charity that demonstrates and inspires positive action for the planet by reconnecting people with the natural world. Alongside the guaranteed £1 million raised through the draw, Omaze has also committed a further £3.5 million through a separate multi-year grant, bringing the total contribution to Eden Project to £4.5 million.
Matt Pohlson, founder and CEO of Omaze, said: "Everyone at Omaze is thrilled that Darren has won this very special home on the Cornwall coast, whilst also helping to raise crucial funds for Eden Project Morecambe. Omaze offers people the chance to win incredible homes, whilst also introducing charities to new audiences that they wouldn't normally reach - it's a win-win for entrants and our charity partners. We're immensely proud that the Omaze Community has now raised well over £140 million for good causes across the UK."
Draw entries for the latest Omaze Million Pound House Draw in Surrey are available now at omaze.co.uk.
