A picturesque Lake District pub has been ordered to remove newly built hot tubs after planners branded them an eyesore.
Matthew Mayver, co-owner of the Wilson Arms in Coniston, built the tubs to keep the pub afloat and says he is now losing customers hand over fist.
He had had hopes that guests could enjoy the scenic beauty of the National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site while sipping on local ales to boost his business.
But planing officers told the owner to remove the hot tubs, plus seating and a play area, after the additions were labelled as ugly.
Describing it as a ‘farce’, Mr Mayver is now battling with planning officials to retain the additions to his family-owned pub.
The Wilson Arms in Coniston in the Lake District has been ordered to remove newly built hot tubs after they were branded an eyesore by planning inspectors
The pub also offers glamping pods complete with wood burners, outside seating, little cabins and hot tubs with stunning views over the UNESCO World Heritage Site
The pub, which has has shepherds’ huts, glamping pods and cottages for guests, as well as hotel rooms, was first told to remove the four tubs by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNP) in July 2022.
Mr Mayver appealed the decision but a Whitehall government inspector held an inquiry and upheld the LDNP decision, saying the tubs harmed the appearance of the area.
The inspector ordered the removal of 30 lighting posts, four hot tubs and a raised decking area and steps from land around shepherd’s huts on the site.
A track formed with stones must also be removed and grass seed spread over the exposed land to return it to its former appearance.
The LDNP said it hoped to see ‘legal compliance from the owner’, meaning the tubs must go.
Mr Mayver said: ‘I didn’t realise you needed planning permission for a hot tub.’
After the LDNP ruling in 2022, he admitted he had ‘made a mistake’ and would send off a planning application for the tubs.
But as the LDNP had already ruled against the tubs, they could not accept the new application, he said.
visitors flocked tot he quaint pub for the views and luxury stays but owner Matthew Mayver says customers are now ringing him up to demand refunds
The Wilson Arms is set in a picturesque village with beer gardens, stone houses and stunning views of the Lake District
He then appealed to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, who responded on April 5, backing the LDNP’s verdict.
The inspector said the hot tubs ‘displayed a level of permanence and failed to conserve or enhance the local landscape of this part of the national park’.
Mr Mayvers said: ‘All we’re trying to do is keep a business afloat and keep local people in a job. We’re barely breaking even.’
He said customers had been calling to cancel their summer trips as they had read about the tubs being removed.
The pub, which is about 50 years old, used to belong to Mr Mayvers’s father, and he hopes to pass it down to his daughters Harriet and Lottie.
‘My daughter’s in there now, helping run the business. She’s young, 22, full of ambition, full of ideas.’ he said.
He hopes to meet the LDNP to see if they can find some common ground.
He said: ‘If there isn’t, then you know, the future of the pub could be at stake.’
The LDNP said there had been ‘several unlawful developments’ at The Wilson Arms which were ‘unneighbourly and harmful’ to the national park.
These included a beer garden which breached planning permission by extending too far,
The pub’s recent additions have been banned as they were not in keeping with the local area and disrupted the natural surroundings
The pub already has a beer garden at the front along with customer parking but had hoped to keep itself a float by adding marquees, glamping pods and hottubs
They said five enforcement notices, a breach of condition notice and a stop notice had been issued against the owner.
They added ‘An independent inspector appointed by the Secretary of State has agreed with our assessment of harm and all appeals have been dismissed. We hope we will now see legal compliance.’
‘The development harms the character and appearance of the site and surrounding area and, while localised in its extent, fails to conserve or enhance the local landscape of this part of the national park.
‘It follows that if the landscape and scenic beauty of this part of the national park is materially diminished, the identified Outstanding Universal Value and thus significance of the World Heritage Site is also incrementally harmed.’
In a second enforcement notice the appellant is also required to stop using part of the land as a seating and play area for customers of the Wilson Arms.
Previously a planning application was approved in 2019 for the change of use of land from a field to a beer garden but according to the inspector’s report the LDNPA say the beer garden extends beyond the permitted area.
The inspector dismissed the appeal and concluded: ‘The development has a harmful effect on the living conditions of neighbours, with regard to noise and disturbance.’
Another enforcement notice was also upheld in relation to the use of a marquee but according to the inspector’s report the marquee has now been removed.
On local social media, Hindpool lad done good said ‘Another business initiative meeting a Luddite council who will be happy when everything is closed down.’
But Steve Clark said ‘This family should know better, been involved in building for years.’
Getting The Balance said ‘Another business trying it on again! Not the first time I believe. Just trying to make more millions but rules is rules as they say.
‘I have a business, I have money! This family have businesses, they flout the laws, they have money, they need to follow the rules like everyone else.
‘If you know them you know the score, if you don’t I suggest you do your homework! Not jealousy just sick of people ripping the heart and soul out of the Lake District for their own selfish money gaining addictions.’
The Lake District National Park Authority has been contacted for comment.