Sabine and her husband Uli were in the fortunate position to inherit the beautiful Wells House back in 2011. They knew they wanted to open the beautiful Daniel Robertson house and gardens and share it with the public.

Sabine’s book-keeping business ran from their home and Uli had farmed the estate all his life. They wanted to create a unique tourism offering. Sabine has driven this dream to fruition, welcoming 98,500 visitors to Wells House and Gardens last year, resulting in a turnover of €594,000. Forty people are employed during peak season. Further additional employment opportunities have been added, with 13 other businesses running on the grounds of the Wells Estate.

Sabine is a keen business woman with a careful plan for the future of the business.

In three short years, Wells House and Gardens has become one of the busiest tourist attractions in the south east, winning several awards like the WLD Rural Tourism Award, The AIB North Wexford Tourism Awards and even shortlisted as a finalist in the inaugural Irish Tourism Industry Awards in January 2015.

Since 2012, the grounds have been expanded and various events are scheduled throughout the year, such as the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Halloween and The Great Victorian Christmas. The Daniel Robertson Parterre Garden has been restored and the Craft Courtyard has been opened. The Irish Wildlife Sanctuary is also on site.

The kitchen has been extended and there is a new seating area for visitors. A guided garden tour has been introduced. Other side pursuits, like clay pigeon shooting, archery and falconry, are provided.

Wells House and Gardens invites families of all generations to come and explore the estate. Visitors can learn about the history of the house, relax in the gardens, stroll through the woodland walks or browse through the courtyard businesses.

Sabine believes that the development of Wells Estate must continue with respect for the heritage and history of the estate. The events and visitor experiences at Wells are delivered in harmony with the rich history and heritage of the Wells Estate. The business is carefully managed to return a profit to enable the ongoing restoration of the Wells Estate. All activities and offerings at Wells contribute to the development of ongoing new visitor experiences at Ballyedmond.

Sabine has enjoyed a tremendous first three years in business, surpassing any expectations she had in terms of growing the reputation and the visitor numbers. She has built a strong and committed team that enables the progress and development of Wells.

Next year, the work will begin on the magnificent house. Visitors to Wells House and Gardens are charged €8 entry per car. Visitors can stay as long as they like. A token to exit is available to purchase at the visitor centre. A visit to Wells Estate is an exceptional experience.