The sprawling Hampshire mansion owned by TV chef James Martin hit the property market, and this seven-bedroom country pile deserves a proper tour. While Charters Estate Agents didn't list an official asking price, reports say it was going for upwards of £3million. Take a look inside and see what a chef's kitchen really looks like.​..

From his decade long role at the helm of the much-loved BBC cooking show Saturday Kitchen to Home Comforts and a UK tour, James Martin’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. During much of his climb to the top, he’s lived in the same stunning mansion in a small village called Stoke Charity, not far from Winchester in Hampshire.

The star of 'Saturday Morning with James Martin' has lived in the detached country house for nine years. Set on around 1.25 acres of land, the building was originally a dairy but was redesigned by a renowned local architect using local tradesmen and materials to James’ own specifications.

James Martin is known for his love of the finer things in life: fast cars, flashy jewellery and his décor is no exception. This Ralph Lauren humbug striped paper in the hallway sets the tone for the rest of his extraordinary property. On a marble table at the centre of this entrance prowls a bright pink crystal panther, proving this cook is not afraid to show his wild side. The walls throughout the house are decorated with Farrow & Ball paint and adorned with artwork, much of which pays homage to James’ obsession with classic cars.

As you'd probably guess, the kitchen is one of the biggest and most impressive rooms in the house. Designed by Jane Cheel, the bespoke kitchen balances modern country elegance with practicality, with fitted electric ovens, a gas hob and all the latest chef commodities such as a built-in chopping board, inbuilt deep fat fryer and a rotisserie oven.

The fitted appliances and ample storage make this space perfect for a busy cook and everything is top of the range, including the Sub-Zero wine coolers, fridges and freezers.

Even crammed full of gadgets the kitchen is a beautiful space, with oak flooring curved windows overlooking the garden and a large Belfast sink. Above a beautiful kitchen island this bespoke copper hood holds a Wessex Ducting kitchen ventilation system complete with an external fan to reduce noise – perfect for when he sears a steak!

The family room shares an open-plan space with the kitchen, however it can be separated for more cosier living with a screen. The oak floors and remote-controlled gas fire make this room the perfect place to relax.

The TV chef is known for his love of dogs and a quick glance at his Instagram feed is full of pictures of his treasured pet Ralph. In this pic, the pair are putting the living room sofas to top use. Luckily, when the need to nap hits hard the living room (and cinema and master bedroom) all have remote control blinds fitted into the double glazing.

The chef obviously loves being outdoors and so it's no surprise that there's space for alfresco dining. The bi-fold doors lead out to the terrace and expansive garden. The wooden decking has a large seating area with a wood-fired pizza oven and fridge.

The house's superb location brings with it many perks, including a country lifestyle and beautiful views across the Hampshire landscape. The grounds of the house are large and very private; a suite of security features includes a new bespoke alarm and CCTV system, with a link straight to the police.

The idyllic rear gardens, which are extremely private, overlook fields and paddocks. James has proudly grown a vegetable garden, which can be reached through a mulberry tree-lined path. There's also a hot tub, which can't be seen from the house, and the whole garden has fully programmable lighting so the new owners can set the mood before a relaxing soak.

A fully-furnished, fully heated thatched gazebo sits in the centre of the garden with a television screen and a drinks fridge for a year-round alfresco retreat. Known as a Breeze Hut, this part pod looks out over the lush lawns, which are laid with Rolawn Turf similar to that used at Wembley Stadium. According to the listing, James plans on leaving this hut furnished for the next lucky owner.

Overlooking the magnificent gardens is the glass orangery, which is part of the original house. The 17th century doors, reclaimed from a French Chateau, lead to the first floor, where the open-plan room is located.

Also situated on the first floor are seven bedrooms. The master suite has a large dressing room with built-in wardrobes and a balcony. It even has a steel door turning it into a de facto safe room. The ensuite bathroom has a double shower and freestanding bath with a television screen and if that’s not all, there’s another surprise in store…

It’s no secret that this convivial cook likes a drink but does he really have his own beer tap in his bedroom? The listing doesn’t mention it, but on doing a little bit of wallpaper analysis between his bedroom and this picture he posted on Facebook captioned ‘Home comforts’, we want to believe that he does. More likely it’s part of the cinema/games room, which has its own bar and built-in play stations.

The second bedroom, which is perfect for guests, has been decorated with an oriental theme. It also has an ensuite bathroom and spacious floor plan. 

The stairs lead up to the second floor, which could easily be a large self-contained flat. Already split into two areas, a gym leads through to this double bedroom with sloping ceilings and two side skylights. While this is definitely a bright and charming space, the wallpaper might be a little challenging for any new owners...

This floor plan shows the layout and size of the 6,739 square foot house, with a number of additional outbuildings extending the space on the ground floor.

The second floor is also where the TV chef hosts guests for his ITV weekend cookery show 'Saturday Morning with James Martin'.

The show sees the popular chef prepare inspirational recipes alongside big-name guests from the worlds of entertainment, food and sport.

The show kitchen is packed full of stainless-steel appliances and has a built-in chopping board for the guests to help cook dishes, as well as having enough space for the camera equipment and lighting. The open shelving along the back is filled with trinkets such as classic car models, which James is a huge fan of.

The test kitchen is also used for shooting recipes for James Martin’s hugely successful cookbooks. In this shot posted in October 2016, you can see how much work goes into creating the perfect plate to sit alongside his recipes. The space must have paid for itself ten times over by now!

The house comes with two large garages, befitting Martin's obsession with all forms of motors including his motorbikes and classic cars.

With a huge range of vintage cars, sports cars and collectable icons like his red Mini Cooper, James Martin's country pile is as much a car park as a home!

After so many years in his Hampshire house, James Martin and his adorable dogs are finally leaving this incredible house in the country.

Still hungry for more? Check out these abandoned amazing houses for sale, and maybe you too could own a mansion.