Bake Off presenter chides opponents of plan to convert Smarden’s 600-year-old Chequers Inn into house
Paul Hollywood has defended his wife after “unforgivable” criticism from local people in a Kent village who are upset over the closure of a historical pub that she owns with her family.
Melissa Hollywood went before Ashford borough council this week and obtained permission to turn the 600-year-old Chequers Inn in Smarden into a single-family residence.
The request, which was submitted in January, was opposed by some residents as well as the Smarden parish council, which argued that the Grade II-listed pub had historical significance to the town and that closing it would hurt the local economy.
“I have given a substantial amount of money to turn it into what it is now,” Hollywood said. “It is a beautiful pub, but it is a business that is losing money.”
He said that the family – who owned the pub for 16 years – did not initially intend to turn the pub into a house, but planned to sell it as a business.
However, while up for sale for four years, the pub received only one offer, Hollywood said. Documents submitted as part of the application showed that the family had gone through four estate agents since first listing the property at under £1m in 2020.
There were 48 written objections attached to the application, with some arguing that the closure of the Chequers Inn would mean losing a community facility with historical significance.
In a report filed against the application, Smarden parish council argued that the other two pubs in the village would not be able to fill the gap left behind by the Chequers Inn: the Flying Horse, owned by Shepherd Neame and located about 100 metres away, did not offer rooms for guests like the Chequers Inn; nor did the Smarden Bell, located one mile away.
The Closure of a Beloved Pub
At the planning meeting, Melissa Hollywood said that the past six months had “shown us the worst in people’s behaviour”, and made a plea on behalf of her elderly father.
“Ask yourself – would you work a 12- to 16-hour shift every day just to make a loss, and would you do it if you were 80 years old with a life-threatening heart condition?” she said.
Paul Hollywood, who married the landlady last September, said the business was failing even though the family had spent tens of thousands on a renovation and new car park. He claims that the family received only one offer to purchase the pub, which was “not realistic.”
He expressed frustration with the local community, stating, “If the villagers themselves want to get their act together and put a bid in and buy it, that’s fine. At the end of the month it’s earmarked to close because they cannot sustain the money that's coming in because there's no money coming in.”
Hollywood’s strong stance against the locals has sparked debate about the role of community support in maintaining local businesses, particularly pubs. He argues that the pub’s decline is a result of insufficient support from the village, stating, “it’s that classic saying 'use it or lose it.'”
The Locals' Perspective
The Smarden Community Pub group, advocating for the preservation of the pub as a community asset, claims to have made multiple offers to purchase the establishment but was unable to secure an agreement. They believe the owners were more focused on the potential development of the site.
“We as a group have made more than one offer to the owners to purchase the inn on a community run basis but have just been unable to get them to agree or engage fully with us so we can move forward because they seem more intent on the development potential of the site,” a representative of the group said. “We feel that if they had been on board months ago we would be a long way down the road to achieving this goal. We are eager but cannot move forward without an agreement.”
A History of Community and Controversy
The Chequers Inn, a 600-year-old property, has been a hub for the Smarden community for generations. Its closure, while understandable in light of the financial struggles, is causing widespread disappointment and anger among residents.
The controversy surrounding the pub’s closure reflects a larger issue: the struggle of small businesses, particularly pubs, in an increasingly competitive and challenging market. The debate highlights the importance of community support for local businesses and raises questions about the role of heritage preservation in economic development.
A Tale of Two Sides
The story of the Chequers Inn is a cautionary tale for both pub owners and communities. It demonstrates that maintaining a pub, particularly a historic one, requires a delicate balance of financial viability and community support. The lack of both, as seen in this case, has resulted in a difficult decision for the owners, leaving the village without a cherished community space.
Whether the locals will be able to come together to raise the funds to buy the pub remains to be seen. But, the saga has highlighted the importance of supporting local businesses and the challenges of balancing economic sustainability with the preservation of heritage assets.
The Chequers Inn, a historical gem in Smarden, might close its doors for good, leaving a void in the heart of the village. However, it has also served as a catalyst for a conversation about the importance of community engagement and the challenges faced by local businesses in a rapidly changing world. The future of the pub, while uncertain, stands as a testament to the ongoing struggle between progress and preservation in the face of a changing world.
