Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash have sold their £1.3million home, affectionately known as Pickle Cottage, and are preparing to move to a new property that requires significant refurbishment.
The couple, who purchased the Essex property in 2021, are relocating to a larger home to better accommodate their blended family, which includes their children Rex, Rose, and Belle, along with Stacey's older sons Zachary and Leighton, and Joe's son Harry. The decision to move was driven by a desire for more land to pursue their interests in animal rescue and vegetable gardening.
"Leaving Pickle Cottage was a massive decision for us," Solomon stated in an Instagram video, explaining the need to consult with family, friends, and neighbors before announcing the move. She described Pickle Cottage as their "dream house," a special place where they welcomed their daughters and held their wedding ceremony in 2022. However, the appeal of a property with more land for a larger vegetable patch and space to rescue animals ultimately led them to explore new options.
"We saw somewhere and I was like we could have a massive vegetable patch and we could offer our land to animals who need it and stuff like that, we could bring the horses back there, the ponies and we went to see it and we fell in love," Solomon said. She added that the new home is "a project, we're moving somewhere really really different and it does need a lot of love and I'm excited to do that all again."
Joe Swash noted that the new property will be a significant renovation undertaking for Solomon, who is known for her DIY skills. The couple first met on the reality show "I'm a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!" in 2010. Pickle Cottage has served as the setting for their reality television series.