THE owner of Scotland’s most expensive castle has revealed that a humble kitchen appliance holds the crown as his most prized possession in the house.
David Fam lives alone in the lavish property and is surrounded by an army of staff including cleaners and groundskeepers on the sprawling manor.
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Mr Fam bought the property near Longniddry in East Lothian for £8million in 2022, making it Scotland‘s most expensive property.
But he admits it was “worth every penny” after falling in love with the property.
It comes with immaculately manicured grounds, a fairytale facade, and a stunning interior filled with countless artworks, drawing rooms, reception rooms, lounges and a classical library.
Mr Fam, the owner of Dreamr Hotels Investment Consortium, has the choice of 13 bedrooms to sleep in and five bathrooms to wash in.
Despite all of this, his most cherished possessions are his air fryer and rice cooker, which he used to cook his first meal when he bought the castle.
He told the Mail on Sunday: “I’m not a cook so the night I moved in I celebrated by going to the Asian supermarket and buying an air fryer, rice machine and some frozen dumplings.
“Now the time has come for another family to enjoy it.”
He added: “It was love at first sight when I saw it. When I walked through the door my face couldn’t hide how I felt.
“My jaw hit the floor. It’s a beautiful home and I feel very lucky to own it.
“I knew then I was going to live in the house. I went into the dining room first, it’s like something out of Beauty and the Beast.”
The Georgian house and estate were previously owned by the Wemyss family for more than a century.
It was designed by the classical architect Robert Adam.
It is situated on the site of Seton Place, the historic seat of the Earls of Winton, where Mary, Queen of Scots is known to have stayed
The castle even includes a billiards room complete with a drinks trolley, a cinema room, a bar, and a wine cellar.
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Seton Castle is built on the original foundations of Seton Palace, with staircases hidden behind the most unexpected doors.
However, he recently found himself giving an impromptu tour of his house after discovering that two unsuspecting girls had made their way past the gated entrance.
He said: “I saw them outside the other day and asked where they were going and they said, ‘To the museum’.
“Firstly I wondered how they got past the gates, then I told them that it was actually my house.
“They asked if they could see around it so I let them in and gave them a tour then sent them off with a couple of bottles of wine – I don’t drink much any more.”
He revealed that he only ever sleeps in one of the many bedrooms in the luxurious castle, where he soaks in the surroundings.
He told the paper: “The way the sun sets outside the master bedroom, that’s the room I love. You pinch yourself. It’s a beautiful view.
The businessman is now selling the castle after owning it for two years because he is unable to spend as much time there as he wants due to his work in London.
Mr Fam, the son of Vietnamese immigrants, was raised in Australia before he qualified as a lawyer and set up a law firm with his brother
The castle requires a management team of cleaners, groundskeepers, and caretakers to maintain its standards.
He added: “I can’t take credit for the decor, it’s walk-in condition and very well taken care of. I am a developer and thought I’d never have to do that again in my life, I’ve had to do that with a hotel that I bought, but not here.
“There’s a caretaker and grounds team who look after the house and outside area and they always keep it looking immaculate.”
The lawyer added that the staff are willing to remain in their posts if the next owner requires it.
The castle was previously owned by an Edinburgh businessman who extensively refurbished it in the mid-2000s and initially listed the property for £15 million, hoping to attract an overseas buyer.
Rettie & Co is now selling the property for offers over £8 million.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
After a few years, the price was reduced to £5million and was subsequently purchased by web tycoons Steve Leach and his wife, Heather Luscombe.
They undertook further renovation work over the next decade before putting it back on the market in 2019, as they planned to move abroad.
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