British actor, Richard E Grant recently sold his beautiful holiday home in Provence to two well-known Hollywood actors and Home Hunts were pleased to be able to guide them through the purchase.
The idyllic farmhouse, situated in the small village of Aups, in this hidden part of Provence in the South of France, was owned by the Loki star and his late wife Joan Washington for more than 30 years.
Buyers, veteran actor, writer and producer Jim Piddock and his wife, Hollywood actress Ann Cusack, who are best known for their roles in Independence Day and A League of Their Own, respectively, have purchased the property.
The charming three-bedroom property boasts a swimming pool, perfectly landscaped gardens with olive trees and ancient mulberry trees, a badminton court, as well as a pool house which offers an extra bedroom with a shower room. It is located right on the edge of the pretty village of Aups in the Var, a 90-minute drive away from the airports of Marseille and Nice. Aups is a vibrant village all year round surrounded by vineyards, stone terraces, olive groves, truffle forest and wilderness, and is far removed from the glitz and glamour along the coast of the Cote D’Azur.
Speaking about why the pair bought the home in the south of France, Jim Piddock said: “I was first introduced to the Var about a quarter of a century ago by my dear friend Eric Idle and have been visiting the area almost every summer since then. During those years, Ann and I have made several other friends locally and fell in love with all the beautiful villages in the Haut Var. It feels a million miles away from Hollywood, and the insular world of show business, and forces you to appreciate a much simpler, slower pace of life.
French Property News magazine wrote an article in their latest issue, here it is –
Tony Patterson from Home Hunts, who dealt with the sale, said: “I was delighted when Jim contacted me about Le Pigeonnier, it was easy to see why they had fallen for it, it is a magical place and it’s in a wonderful location.
“Normally, a large part of the role of Home Hunts, is to find the property, but in this case Jim and Ann asked for our support and advice throughout the buying process. It has been great to be able to share my knowledge with them, we have helped to find the right notaire and other specialists, get the best deal for currency exchange, help to obtain quotes for works, handle administration about moving in (utility bills and much more) and generally guide them to ensure a smooth purchase.”
