The owners of a luxury glamping site at the former country home of a rock star are toasting the granting of an alcohol licence so their campers can enjoy an on-site bar and restaurant.
The application has been approved for the Quaives in Wickhambreaux, near Canterbury, which was owned by Fleetwood Mac’s Christine McVie until she sold it to Daniel and Clare Ryan in 2016.
They have now established Camp Quaives, with 20 bell tents in the 19-acre grounds. It has been operating throughout the summer under a 56-day planning concession introduced to combat the economic impact of the pandemic.
But their drinks licence request has divided the village, with some residents fearing it will generate noise, nuisance and traffic problems.
Others, including former High Sheriff of Kent Paul Barrett, who has lived in Wickhambreaux for 28 years, believe it is a welcome addition to the village.
The hearing took place before the city council’s licensing sub-committee and was chaired by Cllr Ashley Clark, who rejected many of the objections as planning matters and not relevant to licensing.
He said they could be addressed at a future planning meeting but admitted it was “putting the cart before the horse” to be hearing a premises licence application before planning permission for a change of use had been granted.
‘My property looks right into the site and I can read a book by it at night. It’s like Margate seafront…’
That process, he added, was already underway with a pre-planning proposal to the council.
The applicant say the glamping site will operate from late May to early September, with the bar and restaurant only open to campers and outside guests who have pre-booked.
It could also operate outside the camping season for special events, but alcohol will stop being served at 10.30pm, with 30 minutes drinking up time.
Some of the objectors, including neighbour Michael Dack, were concerned about too much light emitting from the site.
“My property looks right into the site and I can read a book by it at night. It’s like Margate seafront,” he said.
But Cllr Clark said the committee could only consider the four licensing objectives, including noise, disturbance and possible harm to children.
Quizzed on the marketing of the bar and restaurant on the business’s website, Mr Ryan insisted that alcohol had only previously been sold on site on occasions when a special events licence was in place at weekends.
Barrister Jeremy Phillips said: “This application is, by any standards, a modest one. I think this is an initiative you should welcome warmly and will overall confer considerable benefit on the area.”
The new business was also championed by Mr Barrett, who runs the Barretts motor dealerships.
He said he first met the couple when he held his High Sheriff’s reception at the Quaives in 2019 and heard of their vision for the site.
‘It’s a glamping site with a small bar and restaurant, not Glastonbury…’
“I must admit it was one that I was very excited about,” he said.
“It has a very low impact and I don’t believe by any stretch of imagination is going to cause noise and nuisance or disruption. It’s a glamping site with a small bar and restaurant, not Glastonbury, and will be good for the community.”
Mr Barrett said he had canvassed views in the village and found a lot of support for the venture.
Speaking after the granting of the licence, the Ryans expressed their relief and said it could help them plan ahead.
Daniel, a designer, and Clare, a yoga teacher who also runs a retreat at the Quaives, said they had “put everything” into the business.
“We must have invested £200,000 and a lot of hard work so far, so it’s been quite a commitment,” he said.
“So we are relieved to have been granted the premises licence, although appreciate we have another hurdle to get over with the planning change of use.”
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