CHESTER internet entrepreneur Simon Nixon has made his first move into the off-line economy with the launch of an old- fashioned bricks and mortar property venture.

Known as SimonEscapes, Mr Nixon’s latest project will be targeting wealthy holidaymakers for his multi-million pound holiday homes, some of which have their own helipads and hot-tubs.

The cutting-edge designer properties occupy prime locations on the Llyn Peninsula, the Cotswolds and Cornwall’s Booby’s Bay.

The founder of moneysupermarket.com has to date only invested in online businesses, including travelsupermarket.com and the recently launched travel guides website www.simonseeks.com

Julie Thomas has been recruited as general manager of the new company. She joins from luxury travel company, Seasons in Style. The renovation and refurbishment of the first property, Borth Cottage, in Abersoch, is now complete. Borth is a six-bedroom coastal house with helipad and hot tub. The second project is an impressive Cotswold stone house, Elkstones, on the outskirts of Chipping Campden, in Gloucestershire, which will be completed later this month. The third property in the portfolio will be called Little Polgarron and is currently under construction on an exclusive seafront plot of land on Booby’s Bay, close to Padstow, in Cornwall.

Other properties are being sought in the Lake District.

Mr Nixon said: “I wanted to bring together a collection of properties in some of the UK’s most sought-after locations, which celebrate the very best that Britain offers,

“I have a passion for sleek, cool, contemporary design and with each house I will work with local experts and materials to create the ultimate ‘escape’ for the luxury market.”

Mr Nixon has been working with Chester-based Interiormotive Design. He founded moneysupermarket.com 10 years ago, and this and his other businesses were floated on the Stock Exchange in 2007 for £850m, still the largest internet flotation in Europe to date. Mr Nixon still owns 53% of the business.

He stepped down as chief executive of the quoted group in February, and now combines his time as deputy chairman with his new ventures. He has invested £5m of his own money in the Abersoch and Chipping Camden purchases and renovations. A further £4m has been spent on the Cornwall land, with projected build and design costs of £4m.