Plans for marquee at Scole Inn Hotel approved by South Norfolk Council

A Norfolk hotel said to have once hosted Lord Nelson and King Charles II has been saved from closure.

The owners of the Scole Inn Hotel delivered an impassioned plea to South Norfolk Council this week to approve proposals for a new marquee at the venue.

They said the hotel’s restoration, along with rising wages and bills, meant the business needed another source of income to survive.

Despite concerns about the impact of noise on neighbours, councillors gave the plans the green light after hearing the hotel would likely have to close unless it was able to grow.

The Grade I-listed hotel dates back to 1655 and is said to have hosted the king and Lord Nelson as well as highwayman John Belcher, who used the inn as his headquarters.

Charlie Yiasemis, the owner of the venue, lodged plans with South Norfolk Council for a detached marquee to use as a function space throughout the year for charity events, fetes, conferences and seating for hotel guests.

One of the council’s chief environmental officers reviewed the proposals and “strongly objected” due to the potential impact of noise on the amenity of neighbours.

However, a meeting of South Norfolk Council’s planning committee was told the economic benefits of the marquee outweighed these concerns.

Mr Yiasemis said: “The hotel industry is really struggling at the moment. This marquee will help us to survive.

“We turned the Scole Inn from an old building into a boutique hotel and restored everything – that was a massive expense.”

Mr Yiasemis said he believed events held in the marquee could bring in as much as an extra £90,000 a year for the business.

Clayton Hudson, district councill for Scole, spoke in favour of the application.

He said: “The owners of the hotel have invested in the business and it is well-supported locally. It has been building its reputation up again.”

The plans for the marquee were approved unanimously providing the business owners can demonstrate noise mitigating measures.

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