The rich and famous of Sandbanks

Sandbanks has become one of the most sought after places to live in the world. Britain’s “Palm Beach” attracts celebrities, rock stars, business tycoons and sporting legends.

The exclusive holiday resort of Sandbanks in Dorset, England, is home to many celebrities and famous faces. It’s become known in recent years as a millionaire’s playground. From titans of industry to football players, TV celebrities and rock stars, the rich and famous all flock to this unique and beautiful area of the country. In fact, it’s one of the most sought after locations in Britain with most properties for sale in Sandbanks on the peninsula and surrounding areas now worth many millions.

The Dorset waterfront area has recently become the most expensive place to live in the the world with the sale of a 2,000sq foot bungalow recently selling for £13.5 million to Tom Glanfield (who appears on our list).

We’ve put together some of the better known residents of Sandbanks and nearby neighbourhoods like Branksome Park. Some on our list live / lived a short distance from the main peninsula but all have close links to Sandbanks.

Famous Residents of Sandbanks

Harry Redknapp

Football manager, player and sports pundit

The first person that people might associate with the area is Sandbanks’ very own Harry Redknapp, The former AFC Bournemouth manager has owned several luxury mansions in Sandbanks but has since moved to a more secluded location in Poole.

Jamie Redknapp

Football player and pundit

Retired midfielder and Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Redknapp, lives near Sandbanks in Branksome Park with his wife and family but often frequents the peninsula. He is also the brand ambassador for the Sandbanks Co clothing brand.

Graham Souness

Football manager, player and pundit

Another football legend is Graeme Souness, who is known for both his life as a football player, manager and now as a pundit on Sky Sports. His home is believed to back on to the Luscombe Valley Nature Reserve.

Tony Pulis

Football manager and player

Welsh football manager and former footballer who last managed Sheffield Wednesday. Pulis obtained his FA coaching badge at age 19, followed by his UEFA ‘A’ licence aged 21 – making him one of the youngest professional players ever to have obtained the qualification.

Rick Stein

Celebrity chef, restaurateur, writer and television presenter

Rick Stein is the name behind one of Sandbanks’ most famous restaurants on the Peninsula. Along with business partner Jill Stein, he runs the Stein hotel and restaurant business in the UK.

Barry Bester

Businessman

The Topps Tiles founder bought a property from Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra for £6.9m in 2015. Since then he has spent £2million on refurbishing the mock-Tudor mansion, including having a £40,000 golf simulator built on the grounds.

Celia Sawyer

Businesswoman, interior designer and dealer

Celia is possibly best known for her appearence as one of the four dealers in the TV programme Four Rooms. She is also a property developer, and has an extensive portfolio of investments from London to Barbados (and Sandbanks).

Geoffrey Boycott

Former Test cricketer

Geoffrey played cricket for Yorkshire and England, establishing himself as one of England’s most successful opening batsmen from 1962 to 1986. He owned a property on Sandbanks peninsula with his then partner.

Karl Pilkington

Presenter, comedian, actor, voice-artist, producer and author

After working with Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant as producer on their XFM radio show, Karl became a co-host of The Ricky Gervais Show.

Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker

Botanist and explorer

A British botanist and explorer in the 19th century. He was a founder of geographical botany and Charles Darwin’s closest friend. He owned a property called North Haven Point that sits on the corner of the peninsula which remained in his family for generations. It recently broke the world record as the most expensive property ever sold in Sandbanks.

John Lennon

Singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist

The former Beetles member bought a bungalow near Haven Point for his much beloved Aunt Mimi in 1965. He paid £25,000 which was considered a huge sum at the time. She lived there for the rest of her life with John visiting frequently over the years. She even kept a room for him where many of his gold records hung.

J.R.R Tolkien

Writer and philologist

The legendary creator of Middle Earth and The Lord of The Rings lived in a house a short distance along the beach from Sandbanks (Branksome Chine) from the 1960s until his death in 1973. He had previously come on holiday to the seaside town every summer for 30 years, always staying in the same room at the Hotel Miramar.

Tom Glanfield

Businessman

Founder & CEO of LHi Group, Tom recently broke the record for “most expensive property” ever bought in Sandbanks. He is the Recruitment International winner of Entrepreneur of The Year 2015 & 2016. Tom is also Judge on ‘Top Recruiter’ series 5 & an IRONMAN! His new home is on Panorama Road just a short way from the chain ferry with unspolit views over the harbour towards Brownsea Island.

Maxim Demin

Businessman

Maxim became co-owner of our local football club, AFC Bournemouth with Eddie Mitchell (a property developer & also a Sandbanks local), reportedly paying £850,000 for his share of the club. Subsequently in 2015 the club were promoted to the Premier League. He owns a substantial property on the peninsula in Panorama Road, close to the chain ferry.

Darren Anderton

Footballer & pundit

Darren was a midfielder who notably played in the Premier League for Tottenham Hotspur and Birmingham City. He also played for local team AFC Bournemouth. He was capped 30 times by England. He lives in nearby Branksome Park just a short walk along the beach from Sandbanks and a little way inland from the coast.

Ian McGlinn

Businessman

From car salesman in 1997 to multi-millionaire co-founder of the Body Shop with his friend Anita Roddick after lending her £4,000. It really was a rags-to-riches story. Ian bought a 24-room mansion on Sandbanks Peninsula – then bought the house next door, too, so as not to be bothered by the neighbours! He died in Monaco aged 71 in 2010.

Louie Eileen Foott

Horse Trainer

Born in 1883, Louie discovered and fell in love with Sandbanks during the First World War. She played a pivotal role in the creation of the Sandbanks we see today. At one stage she ran a cab firm using Model T Fords, carrying passengers from Poole to the peninsula with one of her early customers being Gugliemo Marconi, who was conducting wireless experiments near the Haven Hotel at the time.

Liam Gallagher

Rock Star & Fashion Brand Owner

The Oasis Rock star and now solo artist is said to own a luxury home inspired by the classic TV show Thunderbirds. The five-bed futuristic pad in the exclusive area of Branksome park is a short distance from Sandbanks. He’s said to often enjoy bike rides along the peninsula and over the Sandbanks Ferry towards the Purbecks.

Mark Constantine

Businessman & Trichologist

The co-founder of Lush cosmetics headquarterd in Poole. Known as “one of the world’s biggest cosmetics firms” with 446 stores worldwide and a turnover of £545m. A keen ornithologist, he is known to practice his hobby regularly in the local area. He also has several books published on the topic.

Sir Peter Ogden

Businessman & Philanthropist

Peter is co-founder of Computacenter, one of the United Kingdom’s largest computer businesses. He also spent some time in investment banking and was the Managing Director of Morgan Stanley. He co-owns MotorSport Vision which manages Donington Park race circuit and also established a charitable foundation to pursue his philanthropic interests.