A man who spent 42 years in the same council flat has won a £5 million mansion overlooking Lake Windermere. Darren Thorpe, 53, from East London, moved into his flat at age 11 and has lived there ever since. Now, he is the proud owner of a five-bedroom lakeside home with panoramic views, a boathouse, and a jetty.
A Life-Changing Win
Darren purchased his winning entry for just £15 as part of an Omaze subscription. He has worked as a concierge in London for 30 years and has a 21-year-old daughter, Yolotzin. Reflecting on his win, he said: “I’ve been in the same council flat for 42 years—it’s often been a case of living paycheque to paycheque. But now all the pressure is off. No more money worries. I’ll never have to think about how I’m going to get through the month ever again.”
He added: “To say it’s life-changing would be a massive understatement. It’s not been an easy road—life’s had lots of ups and downs—this is definitely an up. I never thought I’d own a house, let alone a £5 million one. My entire flat would fit in the front room. To be honest, I’d have been happy with just the boathouse.”
The Moment of Discovery
Darren recalled the moment his life changed: “I was in the middle of painting a friend’s summer house when Omaze contacted me. At first, I thought it must be a wind-up. But then I thought, I might as well pick up—because at the very least it could get me out of painting the fence as well as the summer house. So I headed back home, and the Omaze team knocked on my door. The next thing I know, I’m the owner of a £5 million house in the Lake District. It was crazy—one minute you’re about to paint a fence, the next minute you’re a multimillionaire.”
“I thought I might pass out as I never expected it to be the house—especially as I’ve never won anything in my life before. I guess this makes up for 50 years of bad luck.”
Property Details and Financial Benefits
The luxurious property comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered. Darren also received £250,000 in cash to help him settle in. He can choose to live in the house, rent it out for supplementary income, or sell it to become a cash multi-millionaire.
The home is designed to maximize its lakeside setting, with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, and terraces offering uninterrupted views of Lake Windermere. The ground floor includes a reception hall, lounge, dining room, large kitchen, utility room, and additional facilities. Upstairs, there are five bedrooms and five bathrooms, including a master bedroom with en suite and dressing room. Three main bedrooms enjoy lake views and open onto a balcony running the full length of the house. Outside, the property sits on more than half an acre of landscaped grounds with a large driveway, double garage, and electric gated entrance. The detached boathouse features a wet dock and jetty on the ground floor, with a day room, kitchenette, and balcony above.
Celebrating the Win
Darren celebrated by taking the bus to the pub to surprise his daughter, who works there. He said: “My daughter works in the local pub, so me and my friend went to surprise her at work with the good news. She didn’t believe me at first—things like this just don’t happen to normal people. Well, that’s what I used to think anyway. Even though I’d just become a multimillionaire, we still got the bus to the pub. The money won’t go to my head, but the booze certainly did. I don’t normally drink that much, but we got bottles of champagne and some shots in to celebrate. I think we got back at 2am. I woke up with a huge hangover on Saturday morning, but it was all worth it when I remembered I was a millionaire!”
Future Plans
Darren is unsure about his long-term plans but intends to enjoy the property for now. He said: “Long term, I don’t know what I’ll do yet, but I’m definitely going to enjoy this incredible place for a bit. I’ll host a big barbecue up here this summer with friends and family. I’ll also book a holiday, but I better renew my passport or I won’t be going anywhere. I’ll carry on working for a bit, but I reckon it’s looking like early retirement for me.”
“The £250,000 means if I want to, I could actually afford to stay here for years. It’s amazing to have that option. Whatever I decide to do, it will change mine and my daughter’s lives forever. It’s an incredible feeling knowing I can give her the best possible start in life. I’m happiest for her.”
Charity Partnership
Omaze partnered with Centrepoint, the UK’s leading youth homelessness charity, for this draw. Alongside the guaranteed £1 million raised through the draw, Omaze has committed a further £3.5 million through a separate multi-year grant. For full terms and conditions and details of upcoming draws, see omaze.co.uk.
