It’s not in ficticious Rutshire, it’s a dream home in Wales
14:26, 25 May 2026Updated 14:35, 25 May 2026
Danny Dyer who plays Freddie Jones is Disney+ show Rivals at the Welsh mansion(Image: Screenshots from Disney+ show Rivals)
Fans of the Disney+ raunchy, funny and totally captivating drama Rivals, based on the best-selling novels by Dame Jilly Cooper, are treated to seeing some incredible properties on the series as the interwoven plot between characters unfolds, as well as plenty of bare skin and secret relationships.
Now in its second series Rivals stars an array of some of Britain’s best loved actors in the central roles, including David Tennant, Alex Hassell, Aidan Turner, Victoria Smurfit and Katherine Parkinson.
But arguably one of the most intriguing of the character line-up are the couple Freddie and Val Jones, played to perfection by Danny Dyer and Lisa McGrillis, who embody the rise of ‘new money’ created during the 1980s boom years; during the decade of excess and big hair, big egos, and big bank balances.
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The house is called Bella Vista in the show but in real-life it’s Foxfield(Image: Fine & Country)
The couple’s almost instant wealth was created by Freddie’s successful business dealings in the areas of electronics and software technology and so a move to a country mansion in the fictitious county of Rutshire embeds the family from Essex into a world of ‘old money’ and aristocracy – and not everyone is welcoming.
The house is currently on the market for offers over £8m(Image: Rightmove / Fine & Country South Wales)
Where self-made millionaire Freddie seems to fit into the local community without too much effort, Val’s over the top efforts to try and feel equal to the high society within this world of wealth and privilege makes her a figure of amusement for the ladies of the county, especially those from titled families, and this becomes even more apparent during the first episode of the eagerly anticipated second series.
The bespoke American oak staircase(Image: Fine & Country)
Freddie and Val have just bought a huge mansion which they have named Bella Vista, and as Val sweeps down the staircase to greet her guests to their first pool party, she gloats, ‘Welcome to Bella Vista, we called it Bella Vista because it means nice view – it’s so wonderful to be able to stand at the bottom of one’s drive and not be able to see one’s house’.
The Rivals pool party that unfolds, of course, includes naughty skinny dipping, with male nudity and dive bombing shocking Val into a foot-stamping tantrum that amuses the gaggle of ladies who seem to enjoy Val’s attempts to compete with their money and status.
Lisa McGrillis who plays Val Jones in Disney+ show Rivals sweeps down the staircase in the Cardiff mansion(Image: Screenshots from Disney+ show Rivals)
But anyone who is up-to-date with the housing market in Cardiff and Wales will recognise Bella Vista as actually being a £8m property on the edge of Lisvane, north of the capital city, called Foxfield.
Lisa McGrillis recently told an interviewer that the private home was offered as a filming location by a mother and daughter who watched Season 1 of the show and felt they ‘needed to get their house in Rivals’.
Sizeable kitchen diner with doors out to the garden(Image: Fine & Country)
The site has been owned by the same family since 1980 but this newer mansion on the plot was built in 1999 within the 24 acres of grounds that includes multiple ornamental ponds and a lake that the owner reveals is popular for wild swimming.
Foxfield has hosted many parties during its lifetime with multiple spaces welcoming guests to relax and enjoy the company including a dining room that can seat at least 14 but many more if needed, an intimate wine cellar with seating, substantial kitchen diner that opens out into the garden, large drawing room, family room and orangery.
The Rivals cast are not the only famous faces to have appeared at Foxfield and enjoyed time spent at the mansion, according to the estate agent now selling the estate, Welsh Hollywood legend Catherine Zeta Jones once played the piano and entertained party guests.
The principal bedroom suite is huge(Image: Fine & Country)
On the top floor is a more intimate space for socialising away from the busier areas, featuring a bar with stool seating and an area for squishy sofas.
There are seven ensuite bedrooms, with the principal boasting two separate dressing rooms and a substantial, four-piece ensuite with sizeable bath, walk-in double shower, twin sinks, built-in bespoke carpentry, and an engaging view of the garden.
The principal bedroom’s ensuite is impressive(Image: Rightmove / Fine & Country South Wales)
Across the four storeys the spaces on offer also include two home offices, 11 bathrooms, yoga studio, well-equipped gym, large garage in the basement, and oodles of storage.
The staircase that Val uses as her grand entrance is actually the owner’s favourite feature in the house, an impressive structure handcrafted in American white oak that spans three floors, although the house does have a lift too.
It’s been a much-loved home but now it’s on the market for offers over £8m with Fine & Country, South Wales. It is one of the most expensive but also one of the most memorable properties currently for sale in Wales because how many people can say a large slice of the cast of Rivals have visited their home?
The dining room can easily seat 14 people(Image: Fine & Country)
The vendor says: “As a family involved in property development, this project held special significance, blending our personal ambition with professional expertise. Proudly rooted in Welsh heritage, the family worked with a Welsh architect and prioritised using local materials and craftsmen, making the construction of Foxfield a tribute to our cultural pride.
“Spanning three years, the build was a monumental undertaking, yet the result was a home that, despite its grandeur, remains warm and inviting.
The light-filled drawing room (Image: Fine & Country)
“Talking of celebrations, Foxfield has been a hub for family and friends. We created a space that grew alongside the family and became a venue for countless joyous occasions, milestone birthdays, anniversaries and even NSPCC charity events. Visitors are always captivated by the stunning staircase, a centrepiece that never ceases to amaze, even after 20 years, it still takes one’s breath away.”
To find out more about Foxfields call Fine & Country South Wales on 029 2169 0690 and to view the property as Bella Vista, complete with Danny Dyer, Aidan Turner and Lisa McGrillis amazing performance as the cringe-inducing Val, go to Disney+ to watch Rivals.
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