An East Devon charity hit by an arson attack hopes to start selling booze in a bid to boost its coffers, but concerns raised include security at the site and the impact on neighbours.
The charity behind a major listed house in Devon has said its bid to sell alcohol would help make its cafe more popular and allow it to hold more events, writes local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard.
The Poltimore House Trust, which wants to rejuvenate the namesake Grade II* listed property, has applied for a licence to sell alcohol and play music as part of efforts to bolster its events schedule and increase its popularity as a summer wedding venue.
The site’s Branches Cafe, which was established in 2023, now provides the trust with its largest source of non-grant income.
Photo: East Devon News
Branches Cafe provides a welcome income for the charity
Photo: East Devon News
The trust wants to host plays and even films on the grounds, and has aspirations of potentially including meals by guest chefs at its cafe, and performances by local musicians.
Branches Cafe is in the grounds of Poltimore House, seen here in the background.
Photo: East Devon News
The site’s Branches Cafe, which was established in 2023, now provides the trust with its largest source of non-grant income thanks to its pull for new and returning visitors, but there are aspirations to build on this to ensure the House’s finances are viable for the long-term.
The remains of the house are fenced off to the public on the approach to the cafe.
Photo: East Devon News
The remains of Poltimore House after an arson attack in 2024.
Photo: East Devon News
“Following a major arson attack in 2024, the trust urgently needs to strengthen further its capacity for income generation, not least to provide matched funding for grant applications to safeguard the remaining Tudor and Georgian structure of the House from further damage,” the trust stated in its licensing application.
“To achieve its financial targets, the board recognises it needs to make better use of existing assets, notably the cafe and grounds.”
Inside you can just see the devastation left behind by the blaze.
Photo: East Devon News
Devon and Cornwall Police initially made a representation in response to the application, requesting the House add in staff training, an incident log and door supervisors to the proposals.
The police also wanted Poltimore House to operate the Challenge 25 scheme, which requires staff to ask those who look under 25 for ID, and to also enact a refusals register to keep track of how many underage people are trying to buy drink.
The House agreed to these proposed amendments and so has stated it would abide by them if its licence is approved.
The cafe and grounds are open to the public several times a week.
Photo: East Devon News
However, nearby residents James and Susan Westoby penned a lengthy rejection letter, claiming the site was frequently vandalised and that its 13-acre span meant security was “non-existent and can never be enforced”.
“Opening every day from 9am even to midnight is totally unacceptable in any residential area,” Mr Westoby wrote.
“Once people know that Poltimore House is open until ungodly hours in the morning after pub closing times, it is likely that people already ‘three sheets to the wind’ will attempt to get there.
“Encouraging them to drink more, causing a problem for any security (that purportedly will exist). Being written up in a log will not be any sort of deterrent.”
Mr Westoby added that nearby Killerton House did not appear to have an alcohol licence and also ran events, but with much earlier finish times than some of those proposed by Poltimore House.
“The number and variety of activities proposed effectively means that this will be an all-day/every-day business, which would stop us ever being able to use our garden or even our home as a home,” he said.
However, the House’s application states that events have been held in the house and grounds for “at least two decades” and there was “no record of these having led to any criminal behaviour”.
“Several of these events have included the sale of alcohol under TENS licences, and the trust sees no reason why this should change under the proposed licensing arrangements given the types of events envisaged,” it added.
Poltimore House remain a shell after an arson attack in 2024 destroyed years of refurbishment.
Photo: East Devon News
The application seeks permission for plays to be held between 2pm and 10pm on weekdays, and between midday and 10pm at weekends, while the same times would apply for film showings except for slightly earlier start times of 10am at weekends.
Live music could be played from midday every day, ending at 11pm on Monday-Thursday, midnight on Friday and Saturday, and 10pm on Sunday, with recorded music inside the cafe and some external areas being able to start from 10am every day.
Pictured here is an act from Poltimore Music & Arts Festival in previous years.
Photo : Poltimore Music & Arts Festival.
If the application is approved, alcohol could be sold from 11am until midnight on Monday-Thursday, until 00:30 on Friday and Saturday, and until 11pm on Sunday.
East Devon District Council’s licensing and enforcement committee will decide the application on Wednesday, August 13.
