Avril and Bill Tyrrell have made Vino Pasta one of the seaside town's most popuar eateries, but while Avril has been busy as the chef and proprietor of the Italian-style restaurant, Bill has created the beautiful terraces and gardens.

Agent Gordon Lennox of Lennox Estates has put an AMV of 2.75m on the property, which goes to auction on 27 April.

"The house has a fantastic location, " says Lennox. "There are beautiful views from all the windows, across to Djouce mountain, the Sugarloaf, the Little Sugarloaf. If you stand at the top paddock, you can even see across to Sorrento Terrace in Dalkey."

Lennox expects strong interest in this property, because the gardens, stable block, hayshed and garage as well as the land offer so much potential for anybody interested in keeping horses either as livery or for their own ponies.

"There is a lot of demand in the area for properties where a family can keep horses. It's a fine family house with easily maintained gardens, but even though it's in the heart of the countryside, it is also very close to the N11, Delgany and the Dart in Greystones."

The large five-bed home stands centrally on the gardens, its windows following the light which floods each room throughout the day.

The house is in good condition, has been seamlessly extended to 265sq m (2,850sq ft) and has been well maintained. New owners may wish to update the bathrooms, of which there are two with baths and one en-suite shower room. But overall this is a most comfortable and wellproportioned family home you can move straight into and enjoy.

The country garden is simplicity itself . A Ballylusk gravel drive divides into two, with the main path leading up to the house and the pretty old 58.4sq m (629sq ft) stone cottage beside it, which could be used as a guest cottage. The other drive leads down to the stable area, making it easy to manoeuvre horse boxes.

Sandstones terraces have been laid all around the house, with patio areas capturing the sun at all times of the day. A small fishpond is near the barbecue area and raised beds and shrubs and roses open out to the lawns and mature trees.

The rest of the land is in picturesque paddock for horses and is railed off from the main garden.

The house is entered through a porch which opens into a bright sunroom with Junckers wood floor. This leads to an inner hall, under which there is a small home computer station. The connecting sittingroom and diningroom are two beautiful rooms with an old oak fireplace, Junckers maple floors and windows and french doors which allow you to soak in the countryside from indoors.

The large kitchen/breakfastroom is fitted with oak presses and has a utility area and door to the back garden, while next to this again is a family/TV room.

Upstairs, there are five bedrooms, three of which are very large, with the smaller two still being sizeable doubles.

The master bedroom has its own dressingroom and full bath en-suite, a second large double has a big en-suite showerroom, while the other three rooms share a very large bathroom.

The property is within walking distance of the 19th at the Glen of the Downs golf club and a short drive to both Delgany and Greystones . . . and, of course, riding distance of plenty of countryside paths, including the bridle paths at Kilruddery House.

Price: AMV 2.75m, auction 27 April Agent: Lennox Estates, 01-2868275