AN OLD B&B has been transformed into a modern apart-hotel – offering nearly double the number of rooms.

Property moguls and married couple Mark and Caroline Winship have given The Madison in Hill Lane, Southampton, a new lease of life following an extensive refurbishment.

READ MORE: Listed building set to become wedding venue

What once was a nine-bedroom bed and breakfast is now a 17-bedroom apart-hotel – a term penned to a property that offers the best of hotels in self-catering form.

Daily Echo: Mark and Caroline Winship outside The Madison Mark and Caroline Winship outside The Madison

The pair hope to bring something new and exciting to the city with the introduction of their company Gateway Accommodation.

Mark, 41, said: “We purchased this building in August 2021, and the location of this property was the main drive for us and what attracted us to it.

Daily Echo: Inside The Madison before the refurbInside The Madison before the refurb

“It’s only five to ten minutes from the city centre and ten minutes from the motorway.

“The location is brilliant and The Common is right next door. We were looking in Southampton before this property came up and we just loved the area.

Daily Echo: Inside The MadisonInside The Madison

“It has been a big build project – it has been ripped back to brick in the past year and is now a new property within an old property.

“People can have that city centre experience but feel like they’re in leafy suburbs.”

Daily Echo: Inside The MadisonInside The Madison

Mark and Caroline want to bring something new to the table with their apart-hotel by offering self-check-ins, keyless entry and a digital portal which is home to relevant information for guests about their stay.

Mark said: “Although there is no shortage of short stay accommodation, we are much more modern.

READ MORE: Plans unveiled for new 34-bed apart-hotel in Southampton

“The idea of this apart-hotel is if people are coming to the area for work or leisure, everything they need is on tap.

“Each room has a kitchen area with a combination microwave and oven, a large fridge, hob, appliances, as well as complimentary Netflix and generous-sized en-suite bathrooms.

Daily Echo: Inside The MadisonInside The Madison

“We know what people are looking for and we knew we could definitely maximise all of this building’s space.”

Caroline added: “We invest so much of ourselves into these projects as well.

Daily Echo: Inside The MadisonInside The Madison

“The house was bombed during the Second World War and has links to the Titanic, so there’s history to it which we like.”

The Madison officially opens its doors on August 1 and will soon be listed on staygateway.com

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