Cherry Tree Inn in Stoke Row granted permission for marquee

Cherry Tree Inn in Stoke Row erected the 140sq ft temporary structure in September 2020 after the Government ruled that hospitality venues could have temporary structures due to the coronavirus pandemic.

However as the pub is a Grade II listed building it does not have permission to make the structure permanent so Dan Redfern, who runs the pub with his wife Natalie, applied for planning permission to keep the marquee for up for another three years.

He said the marquee, which is at the front of the pub, is needed because without it the business would collapse due to the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The marquee in September 2020 before it opened.

Several neighbours and the parish council have complained about the size of the marquee, the lack of parking spaces and the potential harm to the conservation area.

Despite these concerns South Oxfordshire District Council, the planning authority, approved the temporary structure at a planning meeting last night (6).

Four councillors voted for approval while two voted against including councillor Lorraine Hillier who said the marquee has a “significant impact on the character of the listed building and village”.

Speaking before the vote, Roger Clayson, chairman of Stoke Row Parish Council, said: “The marquee in our view is detrimental to the conservation area and allowing it for three more years will make further erosions.

“The marquee is also there for business expansion. They’ve already admitted to the parish council that they’re looking to do weddings as part of their business plan. We’ve believe three years is a complete fudge.”

Neighbours and councillors are concerned about the impact the marquee has on the conservation area.

Jeremy Tozer, who lives on Cherry Tree Close next to the pub, added: “The marquee is more visible from space than the pub is. It’s a big white tent which is almost four times the size of a permitted structure.

“The marquee acts like a sound box and makes more noise than the beer garden did so why should children living on the close not be allowed to sleep?”

Mr Redfern, who bought the lease for the Brakspear pub in April 2018, told the meeting he’s “prayed” for his business as it was close to bankruptcy due to the pandemic.

He said: “We lost 35 per cent of our Christmas trade and every we receive cancellations due to covid and people are asking to be sat in the marquee – the pandemic is not over.”

Councillor Peter Dragonetti proposed approval of the marquee as he believes the district “needs successful pubs”.