|
From the
https://www.kentonline.co.uk, 19 February 2023, By Max Chesson.
Tudor Peacock wine bar, Chilham, given green light after two-year battle.
Plans for a long-awaited wine bar once knocked back over fears of
"screeching chairs" have finally been given the go-ahead following a
two-year battle.
The venue - named the Tudor Peacock - is set to open in The Square,
Chilham, this September after securing its alcohol licence.
The future of the project - first announced in February 2021 - has
been uncertain at times amid a series of setbacks, including
planning permission being refused last year.
Nick Mogford, one of the wine bar’s co-owners, has now told of his
delight to see a second bid being given the green light.
"It’s been a long road but we finally got there," he said.
“There were a number of objections to the first application over
issues with noise, so we’ve put a lot of effort in to make sure
these issues are addressed.
“We also had such a fantastic amount of support in our latest
application, which makes such a huge difference.
From left to right: Christian Magg, Greg Taylor, Nick Mogford and
Jeanine Mogford.
“It’s always been a community project; we have almost 30 investors
behind it, more than half of which live in the parish of Chilham,
and having the amount of support we’ve had has made a real big
difference.”
Nick, who lives in Chilham with wife Jeanine and their two children,
says the project is “designed to breathe life into a Grade II-listed
building on Chilham Village Square".
The 14th century site - once home to Peacock Antiques Tudor Lodge
gift shop - will be managed by Nick and Jeanine along with their
business partner Greg Taylor and his husband Christian Magg.
With just under 30 investors, including major Champagne connoisseurs
Taittinger, Nick hopes the building of the Tudor Peacock wine bar
will prove to be beneficial for the Kent wine industry.
“It will be exclusively Kent wine; we’ve got a beautiful vaulted
ceiling tasting room in the venue where we’ll be able to do regular
tasting events,” explained the 45-year-old.
“There’ll be a small wine bar too, so people can pre-book to have a
drink in the bar.
“We’re not here to be a pub, we’re here to educate consumers on the
Kentish world and bring a whole new world of possibilities to
residents and tourists."
The 14th century site was once home to a gift shop.
Nick says work to bring the building up to scratch will begin in
April, with the grand opening of the business likely to be in
September.
It will open between 10am and 6pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 10am
to 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
It is hoped the venue will create three full-time jobs, with two
part-time positions also up for grabs and scope for further
employment in the summer months.
The project swayed the planning committee in October 2022, less than
a year after it was first refused over fears of excessive noise and
disturbance to residents lives.
The local authority rejected the initial bid last February as it
“would give rise to an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance
to residents" and cause them “significant harm”.
One objector voiced their concerns over the “screeching” of chairs
on the building's stone floor, commenting: "This screeching cannot
be regulated and will provide a constant and distressing strain on
the mental health of any neighbouring resident.”
Other fears included a lack of parking in the often-full village
square, vibration from music harming the stability of old buildings,
and the fact there are already drinking establishments in the
square.
However, a second application submitted by Nick and Greg saw masses
of support for the idea.
Speaking to KentOnline in August last year, Ryder Blakeley, landlord
of the "White Horse" pub, backed the proposals saying: “It would help
to create more interest and footfall throughout the village and, as
such, keep the square alive.
“I feel it to be a tragedy and a disgrace that there are empty
properties in the locality and am at a total loss in understanding
how anybody might perceive any possible venture willing to invest in
Chilham as negative.”
Bottles and samples from the likes of Chapel Down, Hush Heath and
Domaine Evremond will all be available from the site in the heart of
the picturesque village six miles west of Canterbury.
The Chilham proposal comes after Domaine Evremond - co-owned by
global brand Taittinger - secured permission in 2020 to build a
winery on the outskirts of the village capable of making 400,000
bottles of “premium quality sparkling wine” each year.
It is expected that the first batch of sparkling wine produced from
fruit grown in Chilham by Domaine Evremond will be available this
year.
Wines like Hush Heath, Staplehurst, will be available. |
