I have an FAA CPL/IR and I have spent the last few years based in the UK (I am a UK citizen) but flying all over the world as co-pilot in a turbo prop (MTOW over 5700 KG) I have managed to gain a couple of thousand hours doing this.
BIGS - great experience but how have you logged this time? Do/did you hold a type rating on your FAA CPL or was this SIC on a multi-pilot type? My point being that EASA differs significantly to the FAA in this area and as rewarding as your experience has been it may be considered inadmissible toward an EASA licence (in the event it was a single-pilot type). Additionally, employers views towards 'structured' experience in the UK vs US differs as well; US regionals tend to treat hours as hours regardless of the type of flying however it's a bit different in the UK.
I wouldn't say age was an issue for you though.