An East Devon five-star hotel’s hopes for a summer motor festival with outdoor live music and film screenings rests with district planners.
One of Devon’s most renowned upmarket five-star hotels is seeking permission to re-host a motor event covering film and music showings, writes local democracy reporter Bradley Gerrard.
Lympstone Manor, run by famed chef Michael Caines MBE, has submitted an application to be able to screen films indoors and outdoors on the evening of Tuesday 7 July and then the following day for the Celebration of Speed festival, which it hosted last year.
Its application to East Devon District Council also requests permission for live music performances outdoors, as well as recorded music indoors and out on Wednesday 8 July, the day of the motor-focused event.
It also wants to supply alcohol on the premises from 6pm on the Tuesday until 11pm and from midday-11pm on the festival day.
The hotel’s website is offering hotel guests a two-night package for more than £3,100 based on a double occupancy in a Classic Garden Room. That would include a two-night stay with a pre-festival four-course Michelin-starred charity dinner with VIP hosts the night before the event.
Breakfast would then be served before the festival revs up at noon. The deal would also include VIP access to the ChiCaines Club between midday-5pm, alongside access to the Celebration of Speed itself and Party in the Paddock.
The ChiCaines Club will be held in the top terrace marquee, next to the main house and offer Caines’ Michelin-starred cuisine, while Party in the Paddock starts at 5pm with guests able to enjoy the music festival.
Last year, the festival welcomed iconic cars and live music at the Party in the Paddock, as well as the premium Celebration of Speed experience ChiCaines Club that involved dining directly next to a host of iconic cars with its VIP hosts.
Initial social media posts about this year’s event describe it as an “unforgettable day”.
“From stunning automotive displays to live talks, festival food and Party in the Paddock tunes, it’s the ultimate summer celebration,” the Lympstone Manor Instagram feed stated earlier this month.
The top chef has a close affiliation with motor sports having partnered with the Williams F1 Team for 10 years, bringing his Michelin-starred food and hospitality to the team’s motorhome facility over race weekends.
In 2018, Michael was honoured to be named Deputy Lieutenant to the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, awarded by Queen Elizabeth II and now His Majesty’s personal representative.
