Simon Mawdsley has ‘snooker hall’ plans for his new home
Neil Shaw Assistant Editor
08:00, 06 Mar 2026Updated 08:56, 06 Mar 2026
Omaze winner Simon Mawdsley
A man has won a £4million Omaze home – and immediately installed a snooker table. Snooker-mad Simon Mawdsley, 41, says he’s swapping out the dining table in the stunning house – for some green baize.
He became an instant multi-millionaire after winning the spectacular coastal home in Cornwall. He bought his winning entry for just £15 as part of his Omaze subscription and had been entering draws for more than two years. Simon said he’s ready to create his own “mini Crucible” overlooking the estuary – although he admits his wife Riza, 35, “might need a bit of persuading” before she buys into the idea.
The house comes mortgage-free, with all stamp duty and legal fees covered, as well as £160,000 worth of furnishings. Simon has also been given £250,000 in cash to help him settle in, and can choose to live in the house, rent it out for supplementary income, or sell up whenever he wishes.
The mansion is in a stunning location
The day Omaze turned up to deliver the news they arrived at the wrong house as Simon had forgotten to update his address. An ecstatic Web Developer Simon said: “Funnily enough Omaze turned up at the wrong house to tell me I’d won as I’d forgotten to update my address.
“They called me to say I’d won a prize and could they pop round to see me, but they were actually at my old house. Thankfully we didn’t move that far, only to Bolton, so they nipped down the road to tell me what I’d won. I remember thinking, if they’re coming to see me in person, I must have won something pretty good, but you never imagine you’ve won a house, that kind of stuff just doesn’t happen in real life.
“But they finally came and knocked on the door and that’s when I found out I was the owner of a £4m house in Cornwall. I was absolutely dumbfounded – I just stood there in utter disbelief. I was with my wife and we were both in complete shock. It was one hundred percent the craziest moment of our lives.
Simon also won £250,000
“My wife had been working 14-hour days all week, but even though she was knackered, she started jumping up and down when they told us, she’s been jumping with joy ever since. First thing we did was go and see my mum and dad. They refused to believe us at first, but when they realised it was real, my mum burst into tears.
“We then showed them pictures of the house and she soon gathered herself and started planning which room she was going to take!”
If Simon decides to keep the property, the £250,000 would enable him to run the house for years. If he decides to rent it out, local estate agents estimate that the property could achieve a long-term rental value of around £4,500 per month.
Simon joked that his mum and dad “have selflessly offered to live in it for me when we’re not there!”
The property is worth £4million
He continued: “I haven’t been to Cornwall since we came on a family holiday 25 years ago. We absolutely loved it. I never imagined the next time I’d be back in Cornwall would be because I own a £4 million house here overlooking the sea! We stayed in a tiny £40-a-night B&B last time!
“I can’t believe we’ve got the beach literally on our doorstep! Back in Bolton all we’ve got on the doorstep is pavement and tarmac. We’ll have a big family holiday and bring everyone together this summer at the house.
“That’s something we’ve always talked about, but never get around to. No excuse now we’ve got the ultimate place to enjoy holidays!
“My dad and I love snooker, but we’ve never had the space for a proper snooker table before. We’ve been having to play virtual snooker at home. But now we’ve got more than enough room – I could even use my cue extension. I’ll set up my own mini Crucible here, complete with unbelievable views that will complement the green and blue balls on the table perfectly.
Simon says he now ‘has options’
“I’m seriously thinking about swapping out the dining table for a snooker table – although my wife might need a bit of persuading, at least there’s now enough space to bring the discussion to the table, as it were.”
On plans for the future: “Our goal has always been to retire early. We’ve been meticulously planning how we could achieve that since we met. We had spreadsheets, timelines, the works, everything was mapped out. We were basically going to work as hard as we can for the next 20 years and save every penny, but all of that’s gone out the window now, as all we really needed to do was win an Omaze house and become a multimillionaire, much easier!
“We could never have imagined being in this position in 20 years’ time. We’ll definitely be spending more time in the Philippines. It means we can see my wife’s family more often and we can finally fly first class, that’s always been a dream of ours.
“My parents have helped me over the years, and it’s going to be amazing to finally be in a position where I can help them back. That means a lot. Thanks to the £250,000 in cash, if we decide to keep the house, we could afford to run it for many years – and it’s amazing to have that option.
Simon Mawdsley playing snooker as he unveils plans for his Omaze win
“If we decide not to live there full-time, we’ve got fantastic choices – we can rent it out for extra income or sell up and bank the cash. Whatever we decide to do, it’s going to be life-changing. We’ve got options now we never dreamed of – and that’s the best feeling in the world!”
Simon and Riza, who is originally from the Philippines, have been together for five years after meeting during Covid. The couple married two years ago and they moved from Bury to Bolton last year. Simon has worked as a Web Developer for around 20 years.
Riza, who moved to the UK in 2019, has worked as an auditor for the past ten years. Simon’s spectacular 5,200 sq ft contemporary home is set on a private plot between Crantock Beach and Fistral Beach, with sweeping estuary views from nearly every level and a layout designed to make the most of its unique waterfront setting.
The striking property has been designed to maximise light, space and outlook, with expansive south-facing terraces, glazed balconies and floor-to-ceiling doors framing the ever-changing panorama over the Gannel Estuary. The entrance level features a welcoming hall, a home office and a spacious bedroom suite with dressing room and en suite bathroom, all enjoying dual-aspect water views.
The property overlooks the estuary
On the first floor, the heart of the home is the expansive open-plan kitchen, complete with a host of luxury appliances, alongside a generous dining space that opens directly onto terraces overlooking the estuary, and a spacious living room with wood burner and further doors leading outside.
The ground floor includes a further en suite bedroom with dressing room, three additional bedrooms and a family bathroom, offering flexible accommodation for family and guests. At garden level, the house is completed by a snug and cinema room, gym, utility and storage spaces, all opening onto beautifully tiered gardens that step down to the tidal river below.
Outside, the secluded gardens feature mature planting, decorative ponds and multiple seating areas, with direct access to the Gannel Estuary. At low tide, the river opens out onto the golden sands of Crantock Beach.
As well as making Simon a multi-millionaire, Omaze partnered with Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity, the UK’s leading children’s hospital charity. This is Omaze’s third partnership with GOSH Charity.
Simon joked he’s ready to create his own mini Crucible overlooking the estuary
To date, two previous Omaze house draws have raised a total of £3.5 million for the charity, £3 million of which forms part of Omaze’s longer-term £12 million pledge to help build the new, world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
Louise Parkes, Chief Executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Omaze Community who, by entering the Cornwall House Draw, are helping us build a new world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre that will have cutting-edge facilities, greater access to clinical trials, and outdoor spaces.
“Every year, 220 children lose their lives to cancer in the UK. Thanks to the £1 Million donation from Omaze, we can provide children with cancer and their families the support they need at the toughest of times. Together we can beat childhood cancer.”
James Oakes, President of Omaze, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Simon has won this incredible house in one of the UK’s most desirable coastal settings, while also helping to raise crucial funds to build the new Children’s Cancer Centre at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
The property comes with stunning views
“Simon and his family have some fantastic options for the future. Whatever they decide to do, it will be completely transformative for him and his family. Omaze offers people the chance to win extraordinary prizes, while also raising vital funds and awareness for charities doing extraordinary work.
“Thanks to the generosity of the Omaze Community, we’ve now raised over £100 million for good causes across the UK.”
