Lord Alan Sugar’s quiet life in leafy UK town where houses sell for £8million

With the latest series of The Apprentice kicking off on Thursday, host and ‘boss’ Lord Alan Sugar has built an impressive business empire away from the BBC reality competition show.

From leaving school at 16 to heading a vast international portfolio of brands including groundbreaking electronics company Amstrad, his career has been anything but ordinary.

Yet beyond his professional success, Sugar has enjoyed a steady and private family life, much of it spent outside London in a desirable part of Essex.

He married Ann Simons in April 1968 at Great Portland Street Synagogue in London, before jetting off to Majorca for a two-week honeymoon.

Lord Sugar and his wife have lived in the Essex town of Chigwell for many years, raising their now adult children Simon, Daniel and Louise.

Chigwell, located within the Epping Forest District, is part of the so-called ‘golden triangle’ alongside two other wealthy Essex towns – Loughton and Buckhurst Hill.

The town is a conservation area, and is home to a number of historic buildings such as St Mary’s Church, which reportedly dates back to the 12th century, as well as a number of Georgian houses.

Once hailed by Charles Dickens as “the greatest place in the world”, Chigwell has been named among the top 50 most desirable places in the UK by the Telegraph. The town ranked 69th in 2023, but rose to become the 32nd most affluent town, climbing the most places of anywhere on the list.

The Sugar residence itself is believed to be almost 114 years old and is set in three acres of lush parkland, according to the Mirror. Lord Sugar bought the five-bed home for the sum of £800,000 in 1981, but it is now believed to be worth a whopping £8.5million.

Well known for it’s fancy restaurants and glamorous residents, celebrities including Rod Steward, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Bradley Walsh and Mark Wright have also called the area home.

According to Rightmove, the average house price in Chigwell stood at £615,336 over the past 12 months. Terraced properties were the most commonly sold, averaging £490,321, while semi-detached homes fetched around £605,90 with flats achieving an average of £416,193.

House buyers with deep pockets can snap up an impressive Grade II listed manor house in High Road for an eye-watering £8.5million, or pick up a three bedroom pied a terre apartment in Manor Road for £995,000.

As the centre of affluent Essex, Chigwell is not all about big houses and celebrity residents. The area has plenty to offer everyone who lives there or stops by for a visit.

For outdoor lovers, the Roding Valley Meadows Nature Reserve offers scenic walks, wildlife spotting and a peaceful retreat from city life. While nearby Epping Forest also provides miles of walking trails, nature reserves and wildlife sites.

History buffs can visit Ye Olde King’s Head, a 16th century coaching inn once frequented by Charles Dickens, who even referenced Chigwell in Barnaby Rudge.

The pub is now a high-end Turkish restaurant called Sheesh, a celebrity hotspot known for its lively atmosphere and exquisite cuisine.

Sports fans can pay a visit to Topgolf with its family-friendly driving range, sports bar and restaurant, while more serious players can enjoy a round at Chigwell Golf Club, offering stunning views and a challenging course.