Save The Three Cups Hotel

Technical note on images and links

2012-01-14T16:15:00.000Z

Hi

Just to let you know that I have moved some files around on the site (for example in Images of The Three Cups: Slideshow). So, if you notice any broken links, please just add a comment here and I'll fix it ASAP.

Thanks
David

The Economics of Art

2011-12-28T09:28:00.004Z

On the BBC Radio 4 this morning, Tracey Emin explained the importance of visual arts to the economy of Margate, through J.M.W. Turner's connection with the town. Turner also had connections with Lyme Regis.

There are many other famous names from the literary arts associated with Lyme Regis. It is time for those responsible for the economic well being of the town to allow Lyme to prosper by ensuring the famous Three Cups Hotel re-opens to attract and accommodate tourists.

Catching Up

2011-11-20T22:26:00.021Z

Sorry you’ve been waiting a while for another post. I’ve gathered quite a few examples which show how The Three Cups could be making money for an enterprising owner as a HOTEL and attracting visitors to Lyme Regis. Click through to read more.

CAMROSE MILL
We visited Pembrokeshire over the summer and stayed in a cottage which is a converted water mill. We were attracted by the history of the place but imagine our delight when we read in the visitor notes that the mill had once belonged Anne Boleyn.

HAY-ON-WYE
On the way, we visited Hay-on-Wye. If ever there was a town which relied on literature for its livelihood, this is it. Perhaps Lyme Regis could learn something from Hay when it comes to promoting itself.

GEORGE HOTEL, BRECON
We stayed in Brecon while visiting Hay and wanted an old hotel with character where we could have a meal to celebrate some exam results. We chose The George Hotel because of its charm and history which suggested that many families must have celebrated happy occasions there down the years. Those are just the sort of reasons why residents of Lyme Regis would spend money at The Three Cups HOTEL if only it were open for business. Our visit to The George was an enjoyable and memorable occasion. We look forward to celebrating the re-opening of The Three Cups as a HOTEL with similar hospitalty, good food and drinks.

FISHGUARD & GOODWICK
Like Dorset, Pembrokeshire has beautiful coastal footpaths. We drove to Fishguard to walk a section near Strumble Head and visited a local tourist information bureau. I was interested to note that the area is promoted as the Last Invasion Country because of the landing by French forces in 1797. Perhaps Lyme Regis could add something along those lines to its promotional literature to draw more attention to its role in the Monmouth Rebellion. History drives tourism in the UK. And, of course, Lyme Regis has a literary connection with the Napoleonic Wars made famous through the film of John Fowles book, The French Lieutenant's Woman with some scenes set in The Three Cups Hotel.

DYLAN THOMAS & LAUGHARNE
On our way home we visited Laugharne in Carmarthenshire because of its connections with Dylan Thomas. I may post some images of the various places of interest for visitors but suffice it to say that the town capitalises on its literary connection to this one famous writer. What a pity that Lyme Regis Town Council doesn’t do something about the gold mine of literary history which they are sitting on with the closed and decaying Three Cups and the many writers associated with this HOTEL.

ALNWICK & HARRY POTTER
In October, we had a day out in Alnwick in Northumberland and visited the Castle. Even if you are not a fan of the Harry Potter films, you would soon know that some of the filming was done at Alnwick Castle and you would not be able to avoid the Potter related items in the tourist shop.

THE EAGLE PUB, CAMBRIDGE
On a visit to Cambridge, we were attracted by the history surrounding The Eagle pub and were not disappointed by the hospitality and food enjoyed within. They certainly let you know about their historical connections.

WILFRED OWEN HOUSE
More recently, I noted the publicity surrounding the rebuilding of a house in France associated with the war poet, Wilfred Owen, so that it can be open to the public. There are many famous writers including a poet laureate associated with The Three Cups Hotel. It should be open to the public as a hotel to receive visitors.

Why are we waiting?

2011-08-22T21:19:00.007+01:00

While literary fans around the world wait to stay in The Three Cups HOTEL, spending their money elsewhere and the economy of Lyme Regis suffers, other parts of the country are getting on with business.

The BBC TV Series, "Last of The Summer Wine", may not be everyone's idea of high culture but that has not stopped the commercially minded people of Holmfirth in Yorkshire, taking every opportunity to exploit its fame as a filming location for the benefit of the tourist industry.

There are Sid's Cafe and The Wrinkled Stocking Tea Room among other venues to try. On a recent visit, my wife and I were looking for bed and breakfast accomodation and came across Ash House, which we can thoroughly recommend. Click here for their website. Interestingly, the owners also run a business called Summer Wine Classic Car Hire Ltd, mainly for weddings. Well, why not include that name in the title? I'm sure that the connection has been converted into sales many times over. I believe in Yorkshire such commercial acumen is called "Nouse". It's how they bring in business and create employment.

Obviously, there is a lesson for business (and property) owners in Lyme Regis that if you have famous media connections like, say, a film location (e.g. The Three Cups and The French Lieutenant's Woman) or links to authors such as Tolkien, Austen, Chesteron, Tennyson and Longfellow, you could be bringing in tourists to spend money in your town. And these people would want somewhere to stay which would create even more demand for HOTEL rooms. Others would want to see inside a hostelry with such literary and historical connections and spend money on drinks and meals. And when a hotel like that once again becomes the most famous venue open in the town (as opposed to a shut up decaying eyesore), I would expect it to be the most sought after place for wedding receptions. Then you would see people spending some money. And there would be life, laughter, enjoyment and happy memories. That would be enough to bring a smile to the face of even the most dour Yorkshire man and certainly this Lancastrian.

Guard Duty

2011-08-22T20:45:00.006+01:00

Things may have seemed quiet on the campaign front recently but Save The Three Cups HOTEL activists have been keeping watch over West Dorset District Council and Palmers Brewery to ensure that due diligence is applied to all plans for the HOTEL. Click on the link below to read more.

John Dover, chairman of the campaign group, wrote to local papers with the update printed below. You can see it in the 3/8/2011 edition of The View From Lyme Regis by clicking here and turning to page 16. Look for the headings, Lyme Letters Extra and Three Cups wait.

"For several months now it may seem that little has been happening regarding the future of the Three Cups Hotel in Broad Street, Lyme Regis. To the contrary, Palmers Brewery has been required to prepare further in depth reports for West Dorset District Council and English Heritage as part of the pre planning application process.

Currently we are content for this process to take its course. Following our regular and ongoing meetings with the Leader and Director of Planning at WDDC we are satisfied that a thorough and comprehensive ‘due diligence’ process is underway and has in part been brought about by the pressure from Lyme residents and our group in particular. This process will determine the extent of demolition, if any, that Palmers will be allowed to inflict on this important Georgian heritage asset.

Palmer’s current proposals, in the public domain since last September, are to demolish two thirds of the building including the historically important rear section where JRR Tolkien is known to have drawn his famous drawing of the Cobb and where we believe Jane Austen stayed in 1804 when it was Hiscott’s Boarding House and included what is now Sea Tree House next door and still linked to the Three Cups building.

Considering this is a grade two listed building, in a conservation area, in an area of outstanding natural beauty and adjacent to a World Heritage site it will be revealing to see the extent these factors protect this important icon of Lyme’s literary heritage.

It is likely that during August we will at last know how far Palmers will be allowed, if any, to include demolition in their future plans. We anxiously wait to see how much Lyme’s heritage will be allowed to be destroyed or whether common sense and the effectiveness of the protections available to this heritage asset really do apply. We have recently seen how the Planning Inspector has rejected an appeal for demolition and residential development within a ‘stone’s throw’ of the Three Cups at Holmcroft in Broad Street. Let us hope consistency by the planning authorities continues to apply.

Our group will continue to strive for further constructive dialogue with WDDC and to achieve a positive outcome not only for Palmers but Lyme as well’."

Good Publicity

2011-03-30T19:44:00.005+01:00

The HOTEL Magazine for March 2011 has a major feature on the whole sorry story of the delapidation of The Three Cups. Click this link and go to page 12 to read the article. Any prospective buyers are encouraged to contact John Dover via the campaign website, www.savethethreecups.co.uk (phone numbers at bottom of that home page), or by emailing admin@savethethreecups.co.uk .

Potter and Wordsworth Again

2011-03-18T22:06:00.004Z

I can't remember how many times I've mentioned Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth as examples of famous names in the realm of cultural tourism ...

but I feel I must mention them again as just last weekend I was in the Lake District and you couldn't get away from tourist attractions with their names on.

Our objective was to take a young Canadian relative to Keswick to introduce her to that charming town with its delightful shops and cafes surrounded by wonderful scenery - much like Lyme Regis. However, it seemed a shame not to make a detour to see Beatrix Potter's Hill Top house and it was well worth it. Interestingly, this National Trust property does not have its own teashop but relies on the excellent Sawrey House Hotel next door which must profit handsomely and deservedly from the literary heritage next door.

I must add that I consider visiting the tea shops at National Trust properties to be one of life's great pleasures. There is one such place of refreshment in the South West which is still on my priority list and that is Castle Drogo, just over the border in Devon. I have heard that it serves the best lemon cake in the world and I intend to investigate and establish for myself the veracity of that claim. However, that ambition pales into insignificance besides my desire to take afternoon tea in the lounge of Three Cups Hotel where Professor Tolkien and G.K. Chesterton enjoyed the hospitality and atmosphere of one of Britain's greatest historical and cultural national treasures.

Meanwhile, back in the Lake District, we drove from Hawkshead to Keswick via Grasmere. If anyone doubts the value of literary heritage to the tourist industry, visit Grasmere. You can't escape Wordsworth there or Sir Walter Scott or Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Go and visit Dove Cottage and The Old Swan. I rest my case.

Best Western Understands

2011-03-18T21:41:00.002Z

This week I was at head office in the South East and enjoyed staying at the Bromley Court Hotel owned by Best Western. I noticed that they use the slogan "Hotels with personality" to communicate the attraction of the history of their buildings.

The Bromley Court is an interesting property part of which was built around 1800 and was once the family home of Lord Farnborough. However, I thought it would be more relevant to see what hotels with personality there are in the South West of England owned by this group and I found the White Hart in Exeter on their website. Click this link to see the relevant page.

Wouldn't it be nice to see The Three Cups as a flagship hotel for a successful chain like Best Western who understand the importance of history to the hotel business? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to visit the famous building open to welcome the public? And wouldn't it be fantastic for the business people of Lyme Regis to prosper from having The Three Cups as a magnet for cultural tourists from around the world?

Come on, West Dorset District Council. You have the power to save this most important building for the benefit of your electorate and the English speaking world. You can buy it and sell it in a day and make a profit. What's stopping you?

Romantically Linked? Or not interested?

2011-02-10T17:14:00.007Z

My last article was in praise of The Old Inn at Crawfordsburn in County Down and the way the owners make the most of their history. I am pleased to be on their mailing list and this week I received an email promoting the hotel as a venue for loving couples to celebrate St Valentine's Day at the hotel. You can see the newsletter by clicking here. Sadly, my wife and I are otherwise engaged this weekend but I think I should draw attention to the excellent marketing ideas used by the Old Inn at this time. Surely, The Three Cups could do at least as well as this - if it were open for business!

Location, Location, History and Enchantment

2010-12-21T22:26:00.005Z

I've just posted an article on HollywoodJesus about locations in Northern Ireland associated with C.S. Lewis. One of the most notable is The Old Inn at Crawfordsburn where Lewis and his wife spent their honeymoon. It should be noted that the proprietors of this hotel are trading on their history and cultural connections very successfully even though they are not in a famous resort. This is more than the luck of the Irish, it's common sense and being open for business!

Dorset Echo on Pub Campaigns

2010-11-23T09:00:00.002Z

I added a web address as a comment on the article below. If anyone is having trouble copying and pasting it, you can click on this link instead.

FAIR PLAY - WEST DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL STYLE

2010-11-22T20:44:00.002Z

Campaigners in Toller Porcorum are dismayed at the belated response from West Dorset District Council to their meticulously prepared case for compulsory pruchase of the dilapidated and decaying Old Swan pub in their village. Click through to read the text of their letter of complaint.

I thought local councillors were elected to serve their communities. You wouldn't have thought the councillors in Dorchester have any interest in doing what is best for the people of Toller Porcorum when you read this:

OPEN LETTER TO ROBERT GOULD,LEADER OF WEST DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL
Dated 8/11/2010, Copied to all councillors 9/11/2010

You have stated to the Press this week that "the document from SOS urging the council to compulsory purchase The Old Swan at Toller Porcorum was not a fully worked up proposal. The District Council's legal team confirmed that it was lacking in a number of respects."

The SOS Toller (Save The Old Swan Group) are shocked to hear this from youTWO YEARS AFTER the submission for compulsory purchase was handed to you in November 2008. This is outrageous!

The submission was the result of two years' research and put the economic, social and environmental case for compulsory purchase, quoting relevant legislation etc. We showed that the Council could recoup any expenses by putting them on the sale price. We had considerable help on legal matters from an eminent QC. WE HAVE NEVER HEARD FROM YOU OR ANYONE ELSE IN WEST DORSET DISTRICT COUNCIL THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT during the TWO YEARS since you received it. In fact, David Evans (Director of Planning and Communities) actually said "this is very good" at the time.

We have never had any discussion with WDDC or comments about our submission and the first and ONLY face to face meeting we had with you, David Evans and the Head of Legal Services, was in late July this year, arranged by Oliver Letwin MP. At that meeting, you and David Evans were both asked if you had actually read it, to which you both replied "yes of course". THERE WAS NO OTHER COMMENT ON ITS CONTENT at this meeting.

Why then Mr Gould are you only now telling us, via the Press, that "it was lacking in a number of respects"? If there were flaws in the proposal, why did you not have the courtesy of advising us of these?

Why did the Head of Legal Services not say anything at the July meeting?

Why have you sat on this for TWO YEARS without saying anything to the SOS Toller Group? It seems to us to be rude, dismissive, arrogant and ignorant.

It is suspected that you had no intention at all of even considering compulsory purchase even as a "last resort" as you consistently say at Council meetings. Perhaps we should have realised this at the time of the meeting you had with two villagers (not part of the SOS group who were banned from the meeting) and John Palmer when, as reported back to us, you TWICE stated that you would NEVER compulsory purchase any of Palmers' pubs. As advised by Dr Evans, no notes were kept by WDDC of that meeting but the two villagers did.

We - and the villagers of Toller Porcorum and Hooke - demand answers Mr Gould! We invite you to come to Toller within the next two weeks to meet with the villagers at a public meeting to explain your actions.

What chance for the people of Lyme Regis or the hoteliers who are queueing up to buy The Three Cups to run AS A HOTEL and the cultural tourists who would come from all over the UK and around the world to spend money in the town? It's time WDDC council started working in the interests of the electorate and not Palmers Brewery or should we say Palmers Property Developers for the occasional weekenders?

Are Palmers Playing Ball? It Doesn't Look Like Cricket!

2010-11-16T21:52:00.002Z

In case you missed it in the reports of the meeting of 22nd October, Palmers of Bridport, the brewers who own The Three Cups Hotel intend to put one of their village pubs on the market. At first sight, this looks like good news for campaigners but closer examination suggests foul play.

The pub in question is The Old Swan at Toller Porcorum where campaigners have been fighting for 4 years to see the pub re-opened. Click here for more details. If as reported Palmers intend to put it on the market for £175,000, then this is a cynical ploy to convince the public of their ludicrous claim that nobody wants the pub. The incredibly high figure which is about three times the market value of the pub without taking into account the dilapidation caused by Palmers bad management of the empty building. (Renovation may cost as much as £300,000.) And just to make things harder for any potential buyer, they are offering a 999 year lease with a draught beer tie.

One can only assume that Palmers want the sale to fall through so that they can work with West Dorset District Council to end the life of the building as a pub and deny the village their traditional social gathering place. How does this improve the economic, social or environmental well being of the community?

It may sound like Palmers are playing fair by putting the pub on the market but it doesn’t look like cricket to me. In fact it sounds more like match fixing.

Slide Show from 22/10/2010

2010-11-12T20:57:00.005Z

The slide show available which accompanied my speech at the meeting on 22nd October is now available. Click on this link to view it. You may wish to display it in a narrow window alongside the text which is available below under "The Fight Goes On". Thanks again to Glenn Willis for putting the slide show together and to David Moss for uploading it.

Video from Meeting 22/10/2010

2010-10-28T12:44:00.004+01:00

LymeRegis.tv has posted a video recording of the recent meeting of the campaign group. Click on this link to view it. I was particularly impressed by Michael Turner's presentation (starts at 56:30) which explained how much responsibility there is on West Dorset District Council to make sure that the heritage assets of The Three Cups are preserved in full.

The Fight Goes On

2010-10-23T19:58:00.008+01:00

The meeting of the Save The Three Cups AS A HOTEL group last night was well attended and received an mandate to continue pressing for The Three Cups to be reopened AS A HOTEL.

The meeting was addressed by John Dover, David Parker, Marcus Dixon, Andrew Townsend, Michael Turner QC, Janet Page, Sue Farrant, Oliver Letwin MP and Daryl Turner.

Michael Turner QC chaired questions from the floor. John Dover, chairman of the group called for a vote which was overwhelmingly in favour of continuing to campaign for The Three Cups to be reopened AS A HOTEL as soon as possible.

More details to follow. In the meantime, here is the text of my speech:

THE HERITAGE PERSPECTIVE

Those of you who have heard me speak before or read my blog will be aware that my involvement with this campaign started with a cup of tea or rather my disappointment at being unable to take afternoon tea at the famous Three Cups Hotel in 2004.

I had read that J.R.R. Tolkien stayed many times at The Three Cups hotel. And so happy were his memories of childhood holidays there that he brought his own children to Lyme Regis to enjoy staying at the hotel, too. I wanted to share something of the charm of that place that he loved so much but I found building dark and the doors padlocked.

I might have just left Lyme Regis six years ago disappointed with the lack of hospitality and imagination of the owners, were it not for the good offices of Bob Speer at the Sanctuary Bookshop and the artist Hugh Dunford Wood who had placed a petition there to sign. Having added my name to that campaign, I was encouraged to start my blog and more cultural and historical connections came to light. I’d like to mention a few of these and draw some conclusions.

The oldest connection is that with Jane Austen and I should confess that my first visit to Lyme in 2000 was due to my wife’s interest in this famous author. It is thought that Miss Austen was familiar with the Old Three Cups, part of which still remains at the Sanctuary Bookshop, and we are fairly certain that she stayed in the rear of the current building when it was connected to what today is Seatree House next door and known in 1804 as Hiscott’s Boarding House.

It is a great honour for The Three Cups Hotel that one of its guests was the poet laureate, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. But it turns out that he was just another cultural tourist – he wanted to see the place where Jane Austen’s heroine fell on the Cobb. One satisfied visitor to Lyme. What a good job he didn’t receive the sort of welcome at The Three Cups which I experienced.

If there is one guest who I would like to have met in the bar of The Three Cups over a pint of beer, it would have been the great writer and political campaigner, G.K. Chesterton. I couldn’t imagine an evening of more witty and stimulating conversation. I have recently been advised by Dale Ahlquist of the American Chesterton Society that the great man actually stayed several times at the Three Cups and wrote two poems while in residence. Here is one of them. (You need to imagine looking down Broad Street where you can see the sea over the roofs of the buildings)

IN the LYME-LIGHT

In the steep street where the sea hangs over the houses,
Hangs with all its fishes like a sky with all its birds,
Are the friends I see and the friend who is far asunder
To whom I send only words.

Late I have found you, said the great Augustine -
Friends of my Faith, you are young with its ancient youth,
But not too late, for I know though I die, these also
Go on and die in the truth.

For I know the steep street goes down, but not to destruction
For it fares though it falls, though it dips out of sight, even then
To a living sky like a sea . . . Good luck to your fishing
O fishers of men.

Other famous names are associated with The Three Cups such as: Hilaire Belloc, Stanley Holloway and James Cagney but few would be as well known today as General Dwight D Eisenhower who visited the hotel to brief senior officers prior to D-Day. Eisenhower, of course, went on to become president of the United States of America. Significantly for us, in his farewell address, he warned against the acquisition of unwarranted influence by business over the councils of government.

So what conclusions would I draw from this brief survey of visitors to the Three Cups in its days as a thriving hotel? Firstly, the famous writers I have mentioned gave us wonderful literature inspired in part by their love of the English countryside and coastline which they came to Lyme Regis to enjoy. And staying in The Three Cups was part of their inspiration. These pleasures should be made available to as many people as possible not just a rich few. Opening The Three Cups again AS A HOTEL would make that possible.

Secondly, I would say that the town of Lyme Regis and Dorset generally have been deprived of a great deal of business and hard cash by the unbusinesslike attitude of the present owners. Some may ask, “Where are all the cultural tourists who want to visit the hotel?” Well, there are hoteliers who say they can make The Three Cups pay as a hotel now. I would also say that there is a powerful thing called advertising but we have seen the opposite - hiding a light under a bushel. Lyme Regis does well from its festivals of the arts, music and even geology but I’m sure that these events are well advertised. If this town could place adverts on the internet and with the literary societies around the world, to say that The Three Cups where Austen, Tennyson, Chesterton and Tolkien stayed is open for business, then we could see extra tourists arriving by the coach load wanting accommodation - and to see the sights connected with these famous artists – and spend money in the town.

I’m sure, like me, visitors would want to experience the interiors of the hotel which would have been familiar to their favourite authors. I don’t want to go into a remodelled building and take tea in a shiny chrome coffee bar, like some air-conditioned bright canteen, in what used to The Three Cups Hotel. I want to relax in an armchair or on a sofa in the same room where the great men and women of English Literature sat, in a HOTEL still providing friendly accommodation in the original authentic surroundings.

Lyme Regis needs The Three Cups Hotel like Stratford upon Avon needs Anne Hathaway’s Cottage and Covent Garden needs its Opera House or The Lake District needs Wordsworth’s Cottage and Beatrix Potter’s house.

Lyme Regis should be famous for The Three Cups Hotel as well as The Cobb. There is as much history attached to the hotel as the breakwater and just as much connection with The French Lieutenant’s Woman. But it needs advertising as a welcoming place to stay for visitors not as private dwellings for the rich commuters. (Where are they going to come from in the current economic climate?)

There is so much potential for The Three Cups to be the jewel in the crown of the tourist industry for the whole of Dorset and yet for 20 years this town has suffered a dilapidated eye sore in its midst and a blight on its economy. Now after waiting so long for relief from this economic damage, the people of this area are threatened with the hotel being taken away from them. You would think that in a democracy there would be powers to protect citizens from such harm and loss. But wait, we have elected officials and there are laws which exist to promote the economic, social or environmental well being of an area and its heritage assets. So why has nothing happened? Could it be that some misplaced power exists and persists, some unwarranted influence, to use Eisenhower’s words?

Perhaps we could learn something from Eisenhower’s home country. We needed the help of his army to preserve our democracy in 1944. God forbid that we should have to resort to the sort of armed struggle that this Rebel Harbour saw in the days of the Monmouth Rebellion but there is an important principle at stake here that is worth making a stand for. Is local government going to act in the interests of WE, the people, or is it going to be influenced more by business interests?

I think Lyme Regis and our country as a whole needs the sort of rebellion that started in a harbour in Massachusetts and was encouraged by another famous Lyme resident, and former owner of the Old Three Cups Hotel, Thomas Hollis. (Thomas Hollis was a great benefactor of Lyme Regis and Harvard University or College as it was then.) When I say rebellion, I am referring to The Boston Tea Party of 1773 and the present day Tea Party Movement in America. Please do not be put off by the way the Republican Party is trying to co-opt and subvert the Tea Party Movement, I believe it is a grass roots peaceful campaign by people who believe in democracy and want politicians who will serve them and not big business. It is time for the electorate in the UK to make their elected representatives listen. Democracy is under threat again - at the local level as well as from Europe. We need to use it or lose it.

A cup of tea anyone?

VERY IMPORTANT MEETING !

2010-10-19T21:48:00.003+01:00

PUBLIC MEETING, 7pm 22nd October 2010, Woodmead Halls, Lyme Regis

I would urge all who wish to see The Three Cups re-opened and thriving to attend and make it clear that Lyme Regis needs this HOTEL in business to attract and accommodate holiday makers, students and cultural tourists from around the world!

This could be the last chance to save The Three Cups AS A HOTEL before plans are pushed through against the will of the people to turn this priceless cultural treasure into flats, offices and boutiques.

A View of The Old Three Cups

2010-10-19T21:40:00.005+01:00

Sorry I missed this from last year. Click on this link and scroll down to see an illustration featuring the original Three Cups on Lydia Bennet's Journal. Click on the link in the left hand side bar of this blog labelled "History of The (New) Three Cups" for further explanation.

Palmers Announce Plans to DESTROY The Three Cups HOTEL

2010-09-15T12:35:00.007+01:00

With the utmost subterfuge, Palmers has "announced" a public consultation over the future of The Three Cups Hotel but you'll have to be quick or you might miss it. Click on this link to read the story in The Bridport & Lyme Regis News. Click through for more comment.

You're allowed eight and a half hours to view the plans. After that Palmers will proceed with their self serving scheme to deny the English speaking world one of its greatest historic treasures, namely The Three Cups Hotel with all its associations with Tolkien, Chesterton, Tennyson, Jane Austen etc. Their claim that the building is not commercially viable as a hotel is rubbish. They framed the question to produce the answer no. Is it worth spending a fortune on the building to turn it into a luxury hotel? Of course not! Should this building of huge historical and literary importance be preserved for the public? Yes, it must. How can this be achieved? By selling it to one of the many hoteliers queuing up to buy it who would just love the opportunity to make their living providing hospitality and happy holidays to people from all over the world. Will Palmer sell? No. Then the council should do their duty to serve the electorate and use their powers of compulsory purchase. If they are not serving the interests of the people, then they should go.

One of the other famous visitors to The Three Cups Hotel, Dwight D Eisenhower, warned of the undue influence of business on government when he said “In the councils of government, we must ... never let ... this ... endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted.”

I'm running this blog because in 2004 I sought out The Three Cups Hotel to enjoy afternoon tea in the lounge where Tolkien relaxed on holiday. I am still angry that this HOTEL is not open to the public. It's interesting to note how the subject of tea is gaining importance in politics. I think Eisenhower would have been proud of the grassroots Tea Party Movement in the USA which is seeking to regain control of their government from big business, taking their inspiration from the rebels at Boston Harbour in 1773. I would urge the people of Lyme Regis, "The Rebel Harbour", to confront the big business interests who are seeking to deny the rights of the public and small business people.

Having ignored the reality of hoteliers wanting to buy The Three Cups to run it AS A HOTEL, Palmers have produced plans for a retained facade building scheme. This will involve the destruction of historic interior of the building. They may as well knock the whole thing down and leave a painted hoarding in its place for all the good that would do for the people of Lyme or those, like me, who would travel hundreds of miles to visit it AS A HOTEL.

Advert in View From Lyme Regis Newspaper

2010-09-10T21:22:00.003+01:00

The campaign to Save The Three Cups AS A HOTEL has placed a full page advert in this week's View From newspaper appealing for support. Click on this link to see it. Select the image of the Lyme Regis edition of View From and click on Next until you reach page 13 for the advert and page 16 for letters.

Major Announcement

2010-09-02T08:30:00.003+01:00

Please see the campaign website, link in panel on left for a major announcement.

http://www.savethethreecupshotel.co.uk/

More comment when I get back from holiday.

Bridport and Lyme Regis News Coverage

2010-08-20T19:54:00.005+01:00

Letters from David Young and John Grantham appeared in this week's paper. Click through to read them.

What about plans process?

I was interested to read the article in last weeks Bridport News under the title ‘Brewery plans are ready’ in particular that comment by Palmers about the Three Cups hotel in Lyme Regis where it states that ‘Palmers has this week insisted it will never be a hotel again’.

If I was in the planning department at West Dorset District Council I would be most concerned that such a high profile company would seem not to be governed by the same planning process as that which applies to everyone else.

Palmers should assume nothing until the process of consultation, application, objections and possible enquiry has been completed.

Only then, if they are successful at the end of this process, would they be able to make such a statement.

It should also be a concern of the planning department that this pre-emptive statement may be considered by some to indicate that an accommodation has already been reached by WDDC and Palmers which, if it were the case, would be totally inappropriate.

Yours sincerely

David Young

************************************************************

Report’s major shortcomings

Despite Lyme residents 235-0 vote to keep the Three Cups Hotel ‘as a hotel’ and 1,397 people signing a petition in just 24 hours - Lyme Regis News confirms Palmers say it’ll never be a hotel again:

“A spokesman for the brewery said….the hotel option has been explored using independent specialists to produce a report that was independently verified for WDDC. The outcome was that a hotel was found to be economically unviable”.
But the facts are:

The Palmers-commissioned TRI Report suffers from significant shortcomings. It compares ‘like with unlike’, contrasting the 13 or 20 bedroom unique Three Cups Hotel against a stock of “major chain-operated hotels of up to 50 bedrooms” – any market researcher would shudder at this comparison of the Cups against a database of hotels very unlike it. It then assumes it’ll cost the price of a whole new house to do up each ‘bedroom’ – between £206,000 and £231,000 each! And TRI have added no less than £25,000 for furniture for each of these rooms! Moreover, the TRI Report was never “verified for WDDC” - the Goadsby Report certainly did not assert “that a hotel was economically unviable”. The Council Leader, challenged, could only say, 4 months after Goadsby’s publication, that the Council still “hasn’t taken a final view on the viability of the Three Cups Hotel as a hotel”!

Why? It’s clear: TRI has significant shortcomings and Goadsby did not confirm in principle that a hotel would be unviable.

What does WDDC do now? The Reports patently don’t do what they perhaps had hoped.

And John Dover says – “there are hoteliers in the wings, wanting to buy it as a hotel”!

And yet a Consultation Day WITHOUT a hotel option?

“Is this listening?!”

John Grantham
Community Alert on Pubs and Hotels

Palmers Ignore The Will of The People

2010-08-13T22:39:00.002+01:00

An article in the Bridport & Lyme Regis News this week announces that Palmers Brewery, the owners of The Three Cups HOTEL, intend to ignore the wishes of the people of Lyme Regis and the commercial demand for this building, by turning it into flats. Click through to read more.

Retail and restaurant but hotel is ruled out

Palmers Brewery is ready to reveal its multi-million pound plans for the former Three Cups Hotel.
The long-awaited findings of a seven-month consultation will finally be made public at a special consultation day to be held in Lyme Regis next month.
The Bridport-based brewery is considering a number of proposals for the former Broad Street hotel, which has been closed for 20 years.
They include retail use, a new restaurant – which is hoped will attract a celebrity chef – residential units, and the possibility of some letting rooms.
Palmers has this week insisted it will never be a hotel again, but defiant campaigners say they are still fighting to see the Three Cups returned to its former glory.
The plans will be revealed at a consultation event at the Pilot Boat Inn from 12.30pm to 9pm on Wednesday, September 15, when Palmers representatives will be available to explain the various options under consideration and the public will be invited to comment.
John Palmer, the managing director of Palmers Brewery, said: “We think we have found some potential ways forward for the site, but we want to share them with the people of Lyme Regis and hear what they have to say before we make any final decisions and submit a planning application.”

Palmers seek views before submitting final plan
Have your say on the Three Cups

The Save the Three Cups as a Hotel Group is not surprised the proposals will not include a hotel option.
Group Chairman John Dover said “We are pleased to see we now have a date for Palmers’ public consultation day albeit two months later than promised. Let’s hope their proposals fairly reflect the inputs already made by ourselves, town and district councillors and planning officers.
“We remain committed to the hotel option particularly as we have hoteliers in the wings wanting to buy and reopen the three Cups as a hotel.
“We believe this is still the best outcome to jointly benefit the owners and the needs of Lyme Regis and its economy. We are disappointed but not surprised that the likely proposals will not include the hotel option.
“Our overriding concern is that this iconic building of great historical importance is saved for the future generations of Lyme and beyond.”
Several options will be presented – including retail use and the front of the building, additional units at the back, and a restaurant overlooking Lyme Bay.
Palmers’ architects are considering whether some letting rooms could be included to provide visitor accommodation and the plans must incorporate residential units, which the brewery said was “essential” to fund the multi-million pound cost of developing the site.
The brewery has spent more than seven months consulting with town and district councillors, planning officers and the campaign group to find a future for the site that is both economically viable and benefits Lyme Regis.
Palmers also commissioned hospitality specialists TRI Consulting to carry out an independent report into the financial viability of reconverting the building into a working hotel.
A brewery spokesman said it hoped the ‘diligent’ consultation work carried out so far will mean that the proposals would “strike a chord” with the public.
The spokesman added that it was too early to specify a particular retail use.
The cost of renovating the building would depend on which set of proposals was finally chosen, said the spokesman.
A planning application will be submitted following the consultation event.

Separate article next to this:

Building has ‘no future’ as a hotel

The bottom line is that the Three Cups will never be re-opened as a hotel, said Palmers.
A spokesman for the brewery said: “The hotel option has been fully explored using independent specialists to produce a report that was independently verified for West Dorset District Council.
“The outcome was that a hotel was found to be economically unviable”.
But campaigners said Palmers reasons for ruling out the hotel are a ‘red herring’.
Campaign group chairman John Dover said: “The TRI report commissioned by Palmers did not state that a hotel was economically unviable. The report concluded that the conversion of the neglected and dilapidated Three Cups building to the two hotel options chosen by Palmers were unviable.
“Why do other hoteliers remain interested if the hotel option, in Palmers’ view, is a non-starter?”
He added: “These reasons used by Palmers to rule out a hotel are a ‘red herring’. We believe that, for over 20 years, Palmers have never wanted to reopen the Three Cups as a hotel.
“When the land at the rear of the building had been stabilised and the time was right they would then proceed to achieve what they wanted all along.
“That is to maximise their financial return with predominantly residential accommodation.”

Wider Coverage and New Connections

2010-07-16T08:02:00.007+01:00

The more people who hear about the disgraceful closure of the badly needed Three Cups Hotel the better. So, it is good news that John Grantham of Community Alert on Pubs and Hotels and their Closures has had a letter published on the subject in The Western Gazette. Click through to read the full text of John's letter to the paper and see some more names of famous people who visited "The Cups".

Three Cups must reopen as a hotel

Your readers will know that the Three Cups Hotel in the main street of Lyme Regis has been tragically shut and degenerating for over 20 years. The Hotel is bursting with heritage e.g. visitors include Tolkien, Tennyson, Chesterton, Jane Austen, Longfellow, Belloc, Uffa Fox, Chaplin, Cagney, Holloway, Irons/Streep in the French Lieutenant’s Woman, and General Eisenhower who actually briefed his officers there before D-Day. The owners have said they are imminently going to put forward plans which will end its life as a hotel and involve an element of demolition. Lyme Regis is in desperate need of more top quality hotels – the current ones say they can not keep up with demand. Recently WDDC had a report produced – the Goadsby Report - which was ‘to validate the conclusions of the Developer-commissioned TRI Report. The WDDC’s Goadsby Report is clear, but as the conclusion the council draws from it is not the conclusion other people draw from it I have written the following letter to WDDC, drawing attention to the discrepancies. The letter to the Chief Executive of WDDC runs as follows, and I am trusting my Public Question for Thursday will not be banned, as my direct contact with several of their officers has already been!

The letter:

Dear Mr Clarke (CE/WDDC)

Your letter of 9th June rejects my three Public Questions for 15th July’s Council Meeting. You say “I am of the opinion that these matters have already been dealt with through the council’s formal complaint procedure”. However, this is a process ‘you’ (not I) have deposited my questions into, for a number of months.

At the 13th May meeting, WDDC’s claim that I hadn’t been banned from contacting WDDC officers was disproved, via circulation to all councillors of a copy of the WDDC letter instating the ban. Now your letter of 9th June attempts to ban my 3 Public Questions.

I am now sending you just one (new) question for Thursday 15thJuly. This concerns wording used by WDDC relating to the June 22nd Executive meeting, and so can’t already have “been dealt with”:

The Question: “WDDC reported for the 22nd June Executive that… ‘Goadsby considered the conclusion of TRI, that the (Three Cups) property was not viable as a Hotel, was broadly correct’.
However, what Goadsby said was ‘I do not disagree with the conclusions of TRI, on the schemes they have considered, that they are not viable’.
Goadsby didn’t ‘broadly’ agree, he only ‘did not disagree’ – entirely different – how indeed could he possibly ‘agree’ when confirming he only ‘assumes’ TRI’s redevelopment costings of £206,000 - £231,000 ‘per bedroom’(!) are correct? He also states his comments relate only to the (two) schemes reported in TRI.
Goadsby doesn’t state the Three Cups is unviable in principle as a hotel. On what grounds does WDDC now believe the hotel is unviable, given also there are hoteliers currently ‘standing by’ to purchase it as a hotel?”

I trust the 48 councillors will be allowed to hear both question and answer on Thursday.

John Grantham.
Community Alert on Pubs and Hotels and their Closures,
Burton Bradstock

Cups, cups, cups, cups, cups, cups

2010-06-13T22:18:00.003+01:00

The number 3 appears six times in an article entitled Tracy Chevalier: fossil-hunting on the Jurassic Coast but there is no reference to The Three Cups Hotel. There should have been in the section Where To Stay.

Sadly, until West Dorset District Council fulfills its duty and acts to save The Three Cups Hotel, there will be a shortage of hotel beds for tourists who read the linked article or those who want to visit a hotel with many many world famous cultural connections.

So, I don't think there will be any trophies, cups or any any other awards from the tourist industry for the council unless they show some signs of action. In fact, unless they do something soon, one might suspect that lithification has set in at county hall.

A victory for the hotel trade

2010-05-19T12:44:00.005+01:00

Good news in this week's View from Lyme Regis reporting the legal victory of David and Anna Parker over Palmers' Brewery, owner's of the "dilapidated Three Cups Hotel."

The Parkers run a holiday home business next door to The Three Cups and had been denied access by Palmers. A judge at Taunton's Magistrates Court ruled against Palmers to allow the Parkers continued access so that they can carry on their business, helping to alleviate the shortage of tourist accommodation in Lyme and bring more visitors to the town. I would like congratulate David and Anna on their success and express my admiration for their courage and determination to see the matter through.

What a good thing that the law upheld the interests of small business in the town whilst the local council fail to do so! The greatest boost that the tourist industry in Lyme Regis could receive would come if West Dorset District Council were to use their powers of compulsory purchase to take the Three Cups off Palmers' hands and sell it on at a profit to those with the entrepreneurial skills to exploit its cultural heritage.

To read the full report, click on this link, then click on the image of the Lyme Regis edition and use the Next button to turn to page three.

There's none so deaf ...

2010-04-21T22:50:00.003+01:00

... as those who don't want to hear, is my conclusion after reading the latest article about The Three Cups in the Dorset Echo, entitled "Brewery vows to keep the Three Cups Hotel".

Palmers don't want to hear that, with their "dog in the manger" attitude to the derelict and decaying Three Cups, they are denying access to an historical treasure which ought to be a World Heritage Site. And West Dorset District Council don't want to hear that it is their duty to use compulsory purchase (which would cost them nothing and they can make a profit on the deal) to save this cultural and commercial asset for their electorate to be a hotel again so that it can bring tourists and jobs to Lyme Regis.

I don't know what it would take to get through to Palmers. Perhaps they don't appreciate how much writers like Jane Austen, G.K. Chesterton and J.R.R. Tolkien are admired around the world. As for WDDC, they have a duty to act on behalf of those who elect them and not in the interests of big business. I hope that the electorate remind them of this on the 6th May by voting for candidates who have the interests of local people and small businesses at heart.

Palmers in Court over Access Dispute

2010-03-31T20:15:00.006+01:00

Palmers contribution to the economic well being of Lyme Regis has been in the spotlight at Taunton County Court this week according to the front page story in the View From Lyme Regis. To read this on-line, click on this link and then select the Lyme Regis edition.

Having read the article, it seems that not only are Palmers damaging the economy of Lyme Regis by standing in the way of its most famous hotel re-opening, they are also preventing others from making a decent living from providing desperately needed tourist accommodation. The words "dog" and "manger" come to mind.

As stated at the head of this blog, I am interested in seeing The Three Cups re-opened for the sake of Tolkien fans and scholars from around the world, many of whom I am sure would want to travel to Lyme Regis and stay in the hotel where the great man spent so many holidays. As such, I would like to refer readers to an article on the Tolkien Society website entitled "Calling all tourists to 'Middle-earth'". This describes the work of a PhD student from the Geography Department at Durham University who studyied the tourist potential of locations in New Zealand which were used for making the films of The Lord of The Rings. I think someone should look into the market potential of The Three Cups and Lyme Regis for Tolkien Tourism which ought to be much higher than in the Antipodes, given that Tollers actually lived and worked in England and was obviously inspired by Dorset.

I happen to know that this week the Durham University Geography Department is running a field course examining the economy of Glasgow. Now, there is a community which knows how to build on its cultural heritage be it the architecture of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and Greek Thomson or Billie Connolly's Banana Boots. Glasgow also has a very entrepreneurial motto for their city council: "Let Glasgow Flourish". Sadly, Lyme Regis Town Council does not seem to have a motto. "Let Lyme Regis Flourish" would be a good one but Palmers might object!

Page six of the same edition of View From Lyme Regis reports on a Town Council meeting at which the fate of The Three Cups was discussed. There didn't seem to be much enthusiasm to let Lyme Regis flourish there either. May I remind the town councillors that West Dorset District Council has the power to purchase The Three Cups compulsorily and sell it on at a profit to one of the many hoteliers who wish to re-open it. It is up to them to make sure that WDDC does this in the interests of the people who elected them. They may think it is out of order for a blogger who lives in Manchester to say such things but, as someone who enjoys the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, The Three Cups is part of my heritage as well. I would add that I am sure of the grounds for compulsory purchase because I took the trouble to attend two of the protest meetings where the legal situation was explained, which is more than can be said for some of Lyme Regis Town Council.

Letter in Dorset Echo

2010-03-19T06:52:00.005Z

"Is this leadership from our council?" asks John Grantham in a letter to the Dorset Echo this week. Click through to read the full text which questions why West Dorset District Council will not attend public meetings on matters which have huge impact on the economic well being of the electorate.

"With regard to WDDC’s planned offices move, I was brought up to believe that, if a team left a field of play, they forfeited the match. Cllr Gould does not seem to agree.

The fact that he is not prepared to appear in public to discuss the new office plan must mean one of two things. Either he is unconfident at his, and/or his Council colleagues’, ability to be able to represent the case adequately in public for the office move. Or he is unconfident that the facts and figures themselves are coherent and will stand up to interactive public scrutiny.

Ask any ten people anywhere in West Dorset what they think about the Council’s planned office move and if you get more than one of them even having heard of it you are doing well. The council is trying to slide this one through without proper, fullsome, public debate.

I myself know too much of autocratic Council behaviour, having actually been banned from contacting the Listed Buildings officer over the (20-years-shut) grade II-listed Three Cups Hotel building in Lyme Regis, which WDDC now admits “is falling to pieces”. Messrs Gould, Clarke and Evans all refuse to attend a public meeting in Lyme Regis to answer questions from residents there.

Is this refusal to attend the offices meeting ‘Leadership’ from the ‘Leader’ of the Council? Or is it fear of consulting properly with his electorate?

John Grantham

Burton Bradstock"

Council Delays Exposed

2010-03-10T13:48:00.004Z

An article in the View From newspaper exposes the tactics used by West Dorset District Council to delay action on saving The Three Cups Hotel.

Click on this link , then select the Dorchester issue and go to page 9. Look for the headline "Public questions cannot be ignored - private ones can".

Heritage tourism contributes £20bn to UK economy

2010-03-06T08:02:00.002Z

... according to a report from The Heritage Lottery Fund (entitled "Investing in Success") and yet West Dorset District Council refuse to use their powers of compulsory purchase to save The Three Cups which is the greatest heritage asset in Lyme Regis.

Perhaps it is the intention of WDDC to let this national and international treasure fall to pieces. Perhaps it is too much trouble for them to act in the interests of the local people and local economy. They should have got the message by now that it would not cost the council to purchase the hotel because it can be sold the same day to one of the many hoteliers who want to own it and run it AS A HOTEL. This was explained very eloquently by Michael Turner QC at the meeting in the Woodmead Halls on 5th June last year for those who could be bothered to attend.

And as for that comment at the last WDDC meeting that compulsory purchase of The Three Cups would mean that the council would have to purchase every failing business in the area, I think the electorate are owed an apology for that insult to their intelligence. Or maybe it means that some councillors ought to be replaced at the next elections.

Left to Rot - It's Official

2010-03-04T18:09:00.005Z

Click through to see what the View From newspaper had to say about the recent West Dorset District Council meeting where the state of The Three Cups was discussed.

District accept Three Cups is ‘falling to pieces’

There is growing consensus over the dangerous state of the Three Cups Hotel according to the man who first highlighted its dangerous condition.

Three Cups owners, Palmers Brewery of Bridport are currently meeting with councillors and protesters to discuss possible uses for the grade II-listed building in Broad Street, which has been empty for over 20 years.

Palmers has rejected the possibility of converting the building back into a hotel after commissioning a report from hotel experts who claimed it would cost between £3 and £4 millions to return it back to acceptable standards.

John Grantham formed Community Alert to highlight the plight of the Three Cups in Lyme and The Old Swan in Toller Porcorum, leading to the setting up in Lyme of a group to persuade Palmers to re-open the Cups as an hotel.

Mr Grantham, who has been banned from talking to certain council officials, attended last week’s meeting of West Dorset District Council with a tray of rubble which has recently fallen off the Three Cups.

Mr Grantham was delighted that Council Chairman Ronald Coatsworth declared that “We all know the building is falling to pieces” and that no other member or officer contradicted him. Mr Grantham compares this with a statement from a planning officer last March which said “We sent someone down there a few months ago and everything was perfectly alright.”

Mr Grantham says that a few councillors were surprised a the brick pieces, one weighing 350g, which fell from the building.

He is calling on the council to reconsider compulsory purchase of the building and to find a back-to-back buyer so the cost does not fall on the taxpayers of West Dorset.

He claims this will save the council from “further ignominy”.

DEBRIS

Debris – the tray of rubble John Grantham took to last week’s meeting of the West Dorset District Council to reinforce his claim that the Three Cups in Lyme Regis is still in a dangerous state.

It can be done!

2010-03-02T13:23:00.005Z

Jolly Anglers, Reading, forced to stay as a pub!

From Toller Porcorum:

"Interesting report on BBC South tonight (not South West) (1st March) on the Jolly Anglers at Reading. Owned by Enterprise Inns it was closed suddenly by them for development into flats. The locals campaigned and it has been sold by Enterprise to the independent brewery West Berkshire Brewery. If you google Jolly Anglers Reading there are reports about it – and the Reading Chronicle report."

http://www.jollydarity.co.uk/
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2053015_campaign_to_reopen_the_jolly_anglers

Hotel Talks must include Public

2010-02-25T22:27:00.005Z

A letter from John Grantham of Community Alert on Pubs has been published in The Bridport and Lyme Regis News papers today. I'm pleased to see that it highlights the missing cultural links from Palmers "Heritage" report. It's good to hear that Community Alert is looking at producing their own section for this which puts what they believe to be proper value on all the heritage/special interest areas the hotel offers from a visitor's point of view. Click through to see full text of the letter.

"West Dorset District Council won’t be attending an open session with Lyme residents, working only with ‘Save Three Cups as Hotel Group’ (good), and Town Council (all but one I believe absent from all 3 public meetings on ‘the Cups’ in 2009). All 235 attenders voted for compulsory purchase at June 5th meeting: next day 1,397 of 1,400 people signed a ‘compulsory purchase’ petition.

Does anyone feel it’s ‘limited democracy’ meeting the Town Council but not being ready to talk openly with Lyme residents?

When I reported the crumbling Three Cups’ condition to a West Dorset District Council meeting, 23rd March 2009, an officer said “When we sent someone down there a few months ago, everything was perfectly alright”! When I asked if Palmers should act, he said“That’s not Palmers’ current business objective”.

I called in the Health & Safety Executive, forcing urgent council safety action. Guttering had previously crashed 70 ft on to a public area and a tile had ripped into a neighbour’s car.

Urgent structural repairs, scaffolding, emergency railings, and later more structural work followed. Then more work. Incredibly, on May 21st, I was banned from further direct contact with Conservation/ Building Control officers.

Chesterton Humberts, acting for Palmers, released the “Historical Assessment” they purchased on the Three Cups Hotel.

This incredibly totally omits mentions of features of special historical interest such as Jane Austen staying in the building, scenes from the film ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’ - seen by millions (billions?) internationally, etc.

With omissions like this, how weightily can the ‘independent’ report actually be treated?

John Grantham
Community Alert"

Community Alert on Pubs letter to WDDC

2010-02-20T18:29:00.005Z

The Community Alert on Pubs action group has sent the following letter to West Dorset District Council.

To: Mr D Clarke, Chief Executive, WDDC.
Copies to: Dr D Evans, Councillor R Gould, WDDC Councillors.
Date: 1st February 2010

Dear Mr Clarke,

THREE CUPS HOTEL, LYME REGIS & OLD SWAN, TOLLER PORCORUM

We believe WDDC has demonstrated serious neglect in duty of care to two West Dorset establishments.

1) THREE CUPS HOTEL, LYME REGIS: Alarmingly, the central, shattering finding of TRI Consultancy’s report reads: “Over the last 20 years the exterior and particularly the interior of the building have become severely dilapidated”. (It’s ‘official’ – this iconic, Grade II-listed building under WDDC authority is … “severely dilapidated”.)

Restoration/ refurbishment cost to open would depend partly on the style, quality, rooms etc a particular (new) owner envisages - but no-one doubts it’ll be a 7-figure £ sum. Yet, TRI - as expected - confirms that, once opened, an additional 4 star boutique hotel in Lyme IS viable.

If indeed “the exterior and particularly the interior are severely dilapidated” how does this tally with Dr Evans’ WDDC letter, May 21st 2009, outlining just 3 areas for Palmers’ attention: kitchen skylight/flashings; ivy; and water ingress above rear projecting bay? He concludes “Once this work is complete the Council is content that the listed building issues at this property will have been addressed for the present time,” with the 3 repairs ‘due for completion’ by June 7th. But ITV’s film broadcast of 25th January 2010 on dilapidation, shows inexplicably they’ve STILL not been undertaken by Palmers. (English Heritage knows the situation.)

Equally confusingly, Nigel Jones’, of Chesterton Humberts, Palmers property agent, said in a local paper, April: “The building has not deteriorated – remarkably, having been empty for 20 years, it is in such good condition”. (100 photos of inside, and TRI organisation’s report, seem to suggest otherwise. And most outside guttering, piping and fire-escape stairs have collapsed, perished or are non-functional - indeed two years ago a 30ft run of cast-iron guttering crashed 70ft onto the pavement below.)

From this, ONE burning issue emerges – how speedily WDDC now halts further dilapidation/ collapse. If restoration will cost £2-£4 millions, a new buyer must be searched for immediately, found fast, and start salvage work soon – perhaps buying the hotel for £1 (because of the £ millions investment required … and after WDDC has compulsory purchased at say £1). WDDC should immediately announce, and start implementing, its Compulsory Purchase, publicising strongly “Buyer wanted!” Prospective buyers must obtain early viewings to clarify/ confirm interest; compulsory purchase would follow, with sell-on at perhaps £1 to new buyer, on a ‘back-to-back’ arrangement, with WDDC offering grants/loans. Every day WDDC hesitates, increases dilapidation, raises cost.

By acting NOW, WDDC may avoid surely ignominious disrepute in local, national and international media for failing in its duty. Internet research shows WDDC’s inaction makes it ‘the most backward’ council in UK on solving hotel/pub ‘eyesores’– meanwhile Lyme’s economy has lost some £10-20 millions from the 20-year shut.

WDDC cannot duck responsibility by being diverted by talk of glossy new planning applications, flashy restaurant, sea-views for luxury flats with occasional affordable ones, civic amenities, or opening-up access to Langmoor Gardens, …. Lyme simply and urgently needs more hotel BEDS.

Very specifically, Mr Clarke, given the powers WDDC possesses under 1990 Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act (particularly sections 54-55; and 47-52 including Compulsory Purchase) can you please explain in detail just how WDDC has allowed this building to degenerate into its current parlous, last-chance-saloon “severely dilapidated” state - and confirm immediate actions?

I will phone you this week to see if you and/or Dr Evans and/or Cllr Gould, (having all sadly declined invitations to attend two public meetings with the residents of Lyme during 2009), will now accept an invitation to attend there during February, given alarming TRI Consultancy’s findings. We can agree time/ date/ chairman.

2) OLD SWAN, TOLLER PORCORUM: WDDC still refuses to take the necessary compulsory purchase action. The pub’s dilapidation 11 years after being shut by Palmers, (mostly with rain pouring through an open part of the roof above the bar), has triggered serious physical rotting… and an estimated 6-figure £ loss to the local economy. The owners refuse to re-open or offer it for sale.

Palmers/ WDDC have prevaricated (11 full years), and eventual, stuttering discussions have stalled at 5 years free rent (concession would be covered anyway by purchases of Palmers beers). Extraordinarily, the massive £300,000 necessary to restore the pub Palmers has left to rot would have to be paid – say Palmers - by the residents! (…actually £1,000 for every man, woman and child in Toller!)

3) ACTIONS: We look forward to hearing in due course news of your acceptance of visiting Lyme to debate openly with Lyme residents, finding buyers and compulsory purchase.

We have ‘Questions’ booked at WDDC Council meeting, 23rd February… actually the last before the Election where you can fully inform the whole community on incisive, detailed action.

Yours sincerely,

John Grantham,
Community Alert on Pubs/Hotels.

Article in Bridport News 18th February 2010

2010-02-20T10:53:00.002Z

Click through to read the text of the article. Hopefully the working group will not get bogged down with the preconceived idea of a high cost luxury hotel.

Bid to thrash out plan for seaside hotel

CAMPAIGNERS who want to see the Three Cups Hotel in Lyme Regis saved and re-opened as a hotel hope to get some answers when they meet its owner for the first time.

John Palmer, chairman and managing director of the Bridport brewery, has agreed to meet with members of the Save the Three Cups Hotel group at the end of March.

An independent report on the dilapidated building – which has been closed for 20 years – found that although there is an opportunity for a four-star boutique hotel in the town, the costs outweigh the profits.

Campaign committee chairman John Dover said: “The meeting will be an opportunity to get answers to our questions from the man at the top.

“He is obviously a key decision maker and we now have our first chance to strike up a relationship with him.

“Among the many points we wish to raise with him will be to seek his views on the future of the Three Cups and to establish the strength of his long term commitment to Lyme Regis.”

Town councillors have been asked to nominate three members to join a working group involving Palmers Brewery, their advisors, plus officers and members of West Dorset District Council.

Palmers say they wish to set up the working group to discuss a way forward for the Three Cups Hotel which would benefit the town and be financially viable.

Is it a Question of Democracy?

2010-02-19T21:36:00.004Z

Dealing with West Dorset District Council and Lyme Regis Town Council is proving difficult when it comes asking them to take action in the interest of their electorate as the following letter from John Grantham will show. Click on "Read the full post" below to read letter published in View from Dorchester / Bridport / Beaminster / Lyme Regis on 17-2-10.

The Three Cups: Is it a Question of Democracy?

WDDC sadly classified my letter to Mr Clarke as “a complaint”. WDDC won’t attend an open session with Lyme residents, working only with ‘Save Three Cups as Hotel Group’ (good), and Town Council (all absent from April’s Bridport Public Meeting, all but one absent from June’s Lyme meeting, all but one absent from October’s, Lyme?) In June all 235 attendees voted for compulsory purchase; next day 1,397 of 1,400 people signed a compulsory purchase petition.

Anyone feel it’s ‘limited democracy’ meeting the Town Council but not being prepared to openly talk with hundreds of residents?

When I reported the crumbling Three Cups’ condition to a WDDC meeting, 23rd March 2009, an officer said curtly “When we sent someone down there a few months ago, everything was perfectly alright”! When I asked if Palmers should act thereon he uttered “That’s not Palmers’ current business objective”.

I therefore called-in H&S Executive, forcing urgent WDDC safety action. Vital, as guttering had previously crashed 70 ft onto a public area and a tile had ripped into a neighbour’s car. Urgent structural repairs with scaffolding followed, emergency railings, and later more structural internal work. Yet more work was required later, some implemented. I believe our whistle-blowing was severely resented, and incredibly, May 21st, I was actually banned from further direct contact with Conservation/ Building Control officers! (One reason for my approx weekly email to WDDC - their stated complaint - was … I hardly ever received clear answers on Council’s powers/actions. I still am unclear on these).

Today the Cups’ condition is “severely dilapidated” (TRI).

I am sending WDDC some real complaints/questions now on other questions ignored.

(If Community Alert writes less to “Letters” in future, the fight for true facts/ fairness/ democratic expression nevertheless accelerates!)

John Grantham
Community Alert

Philanthropy - now there's an idea

2010-02-14T09:24:00.007Z

Yesterday, I visited the Towneley Museum in Burnley where there are many exhibits relating to the brewer, Edward Stocks Massey, described as Burnley's greatest philanthropist.

The museum building belonged to the Towneley family until 1902 when they sold it to the Town Council as they could no longer maintain it. Since then it has been open for the public to enjoy.

I believe that Lyme Regis Town Council were in favour of compulsory purchase of The Three Cups. As Palmers appear to be unable to maintain the building in a safe condition, I would suggest that the town council pursue their resolution with West Dorset District Council who have the power to act in the interest of those who elected them.

Reaction from Campaign Group

2010-02-03T20:00:00.004Z

The Save The Three Cups as a HOTEL action group have given their response to Palmer's consultants report on their website, www.savethethreecupshotel.co.uk.

For my own part, I would like to add a few comments to my earlier ones regarding this report:

- the answer you get depends on the question you ask

- if Palmers don't want The Three Cups to be a hotel again, they should sell it or the District Council should use compulsory purchase to save it for the nation and the cultural tourists from around the world who would come and stay there and

- where there's a will, there's a way.

Protests continue

2010-01-28T21:47:00.001Z

See "Lyme Regis: Youngster plans protest march for Three Cups Hotel campaign" in the Bridport & Lyme Regis News.

Report in Bridport & Lyme Regis News

2010-01-28T21:30:00.002Z

Click this link to read an article from the Bridport & Lyme Regis News about Palmers' report on the commercial potential of The Three Cups Hotel if its cultural heritage is ignored and reaction to it. I look forward to a report on the potential of the hotel taking into account its literary history and world wide appeal.

This way for the debate

2010-01-28T21:25:00.003Z

There has been some lively debate on the www.realwestdorset.co.uk website. Click this link to access the relevant post and comments. Many thanks to Anonymous who commented on the post below and drew my attention to this other blog. Some interesting photos, too.

Some mistake, surely

2010-01-26T06:26:00.004Z

The report from TRi Hospitality Consulting commissioned by Palmers into the viability of re-opening The Three Cups as a hotel has been published. It obviously misses the point.

I don't wish to cast doubt on TRi's ability but it looks like they were given the wrong brief. Apart from a derogatory comment saying that the hotel is well known in the region because of its reported literary connections (which definitely casts doubt on my research and that of the staff at The Lyme Regis Museum), they have not considered the value of cultural heritage. Perhaps that was their brief but it misses the whole point.

This hotel can be differentiated on the world wide fame of its former guests. They should have put a value on that. If they and Palmers can't, they should sell the building to an entreprenuer who can or give it to the National Trust. The Three Cups is a national and international treasure. If Palmers can't see that and if they can't make a profit out of the building they should hand it over to those who can.

What's the hold up?

2010-01-07T20:21:00.004Z

The report commissioned by Palmer's into the viability of re-opening The Three Cups as a hotel has been delayed accorinding to a report in the Bridport and Lyme Regis News.

There is an interesting line in the news report which says that the terms of reference included "to appraise the site and the market for hotel accommodation in and around Lyme Regis". I hope the terms were broader than that because one of the reasons I have been running this blog for the past five years is the fact that J.R.R. Tolkien stayed many times at The Three Cups. In case it has escaped Palmers' attention, may I point out that the works of Tolkein and the films of his books are hugely popular all around the world. I would suggest that the UK and international market for cultural tourism should be included in the report. Otherwise, the findings may be a little skewed.

It’s only one cheer so far

2010-01-07T17:58:00.005Z

The Bridport and Lyme Regis News published a letter from John Grantham of Community Alert on Pubs on 23/12/09. As the title of this post indicates, there is some cause for optimism but a long way to go for Palmers to fully understand concepts such as corporate responsibility to the community. And as for West Dorset District Council serving the interests of their electorate ... Click on "Read the full post" below to read the letter.

"One cheer, not ‘three’, for Palmers’ of Bridport offer to waive 5 years rent on the Old Swan pub, Toller Porcorum.... saving maybe £25,000 total over 5 years – (though Palmers would anyway recoup this on beer sales). Why ‘one’ cheer?

Because Chesterton-Humberts, Palmers’ agents, appear to have omitted the re-start-up cost of about £300,000 needed to save/update the disintegrating, boarded-up, sodden, flaking building. (Palmers shut the pub 11 years ago, leaving it rotting, despite a Govt Inspector ruling it ‘viable’). Rainwater has flooded through the roof – (despite residents telling Palmers). Mr Connelly, of Save the Old Swan Group, said at WDDC in November that Palmers say residents would have to find the £300,000 start-up cost!

WDDC/Palmers have acted very slowly since the SOS November 2008 report requesting Compulsory Purchase. We know that in January, WDDC invited two Toller village individuals - ‘not there as representatives of the Parish Council’ – to a meeting with them/Palmers, begging the Parish-Council-mandated SOS group not to attend - or Palmers might cancel the meeting! (WDDC subsequently offered Toller £3k for a Business Plan, but delayed commissioning for months. Meanwhile Tollers’s B&B and Camping enterprises, etc go on losing bookings because there is no pub.)

Chesterton-Humberts say the 5-year rent-free offer - with the residents paying the £300,000 start-up cost - is ‘generous’! Others would say that - having already triggered a 6-figure loss on the Toller economy in 11 years by shutting, and after creating a ghastly eye-sore - Palmers could finally now sell the “pub” to the village for £1, or WDDC should at last use its powers to compulsory purchase.

Will Palmers - knowing their ancestors bought wisely into the business just over 100 years ago – share the community view that their wealth, then and now, actually derives from the community, and this small act of magnanimity, setting aside their ‘Dilapidate and Rot’ stance, would lead droves of people to return to ‘drinking Palmers’ in Toller and throughout West Dorset – giving all a ‘win-win’ – ringing in a communal ‘three cheers’!

John Grantham,
Community Alert"

Article in The Lady Magazine

2009-12-23T18:27:00.002Z

The Lady Magazine for 15th December carried an article entitled "Storm in The Three Cups" by Matthew Bell.

The subtitle is "A Lyme Regis Hotel in which Jane Austen, Tennyson and Tolkien stayed is in danger of being demolished. Unless 10 years old Leon Howe can save it."

All credit to the magazine for publicising this worthy cause. I fear the main title may trivialise what to me and many others is an issue of great importance to our national heritage although the subtitle does make amends. The article itself emphasises the strong connection with Tolkien.

I was interested to read confirmation that Charlie Chaplin, General Eisenhower and James Cagney were also guests.

Preserve our past and create a better future

2009-12-12T21:38:00.006Z

Loyd Grossman, writing in the Daily Telegraph yesterday, explained why it is so important to preserve buildings which define our national identity.

He went on to ask for more lottery funds. However, The Three Cups Hotel should not need government money (lottery or otherwise) to keep going. If it is re-opened as a hotel, it would be self-financing as well as allowing tourists to experience a building of huge cultural importance and use it for its original purpose of hospitality.

A re-opened Three Cups would be good news financially and culturally in these difficult economic times because, at the moment, it must be driving tourists away. Come on West Dorset Council, make something happen. Every day that passes while The Cups is shut is lost business for people in Lyme Regis who have to make a living. You are supposed to be there to serve them. Use your powers of compulsory purchase. There are local hoteliers who want to turn this derelict building into a thriving business. How long do we have to wait?

Message of support from Griff Rhys Jones

2009-11-24T19:10:00.004Z

Ten year Leon Howe has been doing an amazing job of contacting famous people to ask them to help with saving The Three Cups AS A HOTEL. Leon has recently received an email from Griff Rhys Jones (who presents the BBC TV Restoration series) supporting the campaign and begging the building owners "to listen to what local people are saying".

Message for the meeting of Friday 16th October

2009-10-19T18:17:00.005+01:00

Sadly, I was not able to get from Manchester to Lyme Regis for the meeting last Friday so I sent the following message with my apologies. I wanted to emphasise that there is more at stake than the number of hotel beds available in West Dorset.

Please accept my apologies for absence. I would very much like to be with you this evening, but circumstances do not permit. Therefore I have asked if this statement could be read out.

When I visited in 2004, I only wanted a cup of tea – and a scone – well a Dorset cream tea would have done nicely. But I wanted to enjoy it in the lounge of The Three Cups Hotel where JRR Tolkien spent many of his holidays. You wouldn’t have thought that was too much to ask. You would expect in a well-to-do seaside resort, with a rich literary history, that such a famous inn, with its central location, would be open in the month of August. But it was definitely closed for business.

“Something ought to be done about this”, I thought, but I would not have known where to start were it not for several other characters who I must implicate. I signed a petition complaining about this sad state of affairs, started by Hugh Dunford Wood, in Bob Speer’s Sanctuary Bookshop. Things might have ended there had it not been for Greg Wright who encouraged me to start my blog and web-designer David Moss who helped me. And I suspect that there are a number of people in this room who have a lot to answer for. I would defy anyone with a sense of history to spend more than a day in Lyme Regis without coming under the influence of the literary and political traditions of this place. It is no accident that I, who trained as an engineer, will be writing an article this weekend discussing the influence of GK Chesterton on Tolkien. And if anyone - who knew me before 2004 - is surprised that I am now very interested in politics I would have to say that there is something about the ‘Pearl of the Dorset Coast’ which inspires people and gives them a vision of a better world.

It was a literary connection which first attracted me to the Three Cups Hotel but there is a parallel between the film of the French Lieutenant’s Woman and my involvement in this campaign. Just as the screenplay of John Fowles described real life and film-making influencing each other, so my part-time blogging and interest in the affairs of Lyme have mirrored my growing concern in politics nationally. In fact, I think what the people of Lyme have achieved in organising themselves, and making politicians take notice, should be an inspiration to the whole country. As the issues have been publicised, local people have realised the importance of pubs and hotels to their communities and the tourist trade of the area, and have begun to speak out. Old inns such as The Three Cups also represent something of our national character which must be preserved for the sake of social well-being. And environmental and economic well-being. They must not be left to rot!

It would be easy to get discouraged. But in Lyme you have to put on a brave show, “Rebel Harbour”. Now, in no way am I suggesting the use of force to achieve our ends but I think the Monmouth Rebellion suggests that the status quo need not be accepted and as long as we have democracy, we should look to revive true government of the people, by the people, FOR the people. I think that the campaign to save community pubs and The Three Cups has gone a long way to achieve that. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

P.S. Click here if you would like to read my article on Chesterton and Tolkien.

Public Meeting - Friday 16th October

2009-10-16T07:07:00.003+01:00

If you want to support the campaign to save The Three Cups as a HOTEL, don't miss the meeting at 7pm in the Woodmead Halls in Lyme Regis. From past experience, you will need to get there early to get a seat!

Stephen Fry adds his support

2009-10-15T12:43:00.002+01:00

The actor Stephen Fry has added his support to the campaign to save The Three Cups as a HOTEL. Click here to read a report in the Bridport & Lyme Regis News.

Protest March - Sunday 11th October

2009-10-10T20:06:00.002+01:00

If you live in or around Lyme, don't forget the protest march on Sunday 11th October, starting at the Amusement Arcade, on Marine Parade at 2pm. Again, organised by Leon Howe, this march will be a precursor to the Public Meeting on the 16th! Please go along to support this event to Save The Three Cups as a HOTEL.

Important Events

2009-10-09T18:51:00.002+01:00

Don't forget to visit the campaign web site, Save The Three Cups HOTEL, for details of the protest march on Sunday 11th October and the meeting at the Woodmead Halls in Lyme Regis at 7pm on Friday 16th October. There are going to be some very exciting developments at the meeting!

Dorset - The place to be

2009-10-09T18:42:00.003+01:00

The Daily Mail has an article today on the growing popularity of the Dorset coast for UK holiday makers. Click here to read the article. So there will be a need for more hotel beds. And why not draw in more tourists by opening a world famous attraction: the hotel where Tolkien, Jane Austen, Tennyson and Chesterton stayed and where Jeremy Irons acted?

A Song to Celebrate the Three Cups!

2009-10-09T18:24:00.002+01:00

The Shanty Theatre Company who recently produced a play about The Monmouth Rebellion in Lyme Regis, called Rebel Harbour, have written a song to celebrate the rich cultural history of The Three Cups Hotel.
Click here to listen to the song.
Click here for a review of the play.

For sale? No. So, Compulsory Purchase ASAP!

2009-09-09T13:24:00.004+01:00

West Dorset District Council say that "no prospective buyer has come forward to purchase either the Old Swan or The Three Cups". That's because Palmers have refused to put them up for sale.

If WDDC would care to make some enquiries, they would find several prospective buyers for The Three Cups and that Lyme Regis is desparately short of hotel beds. So The Three Cups could be bought and sold at a profit under existing legislation. They would also find that the vast majority of residents in Lyme Regis want to see The Cups re-opened as a hotel and not gutted in the interests of Palmers' property development schemes. The councillors of WDDC were elected to serve the people of their area. Isn't it about time we saw them doing just that? Every day they delay, Lyme Regis loses money and visitors turn away disappointed.

Watch out for more detailed reporting in the local press around Lyme Regis.

Well being delayed is well being denied

2009-09-04T21:44:00.006+01:00

A report on page 2 of the Western Gazette of 3rd September indicates that West Dorset District Council are going to give Palmers more time to re-open The Three Cups. After 20 years, one can't help wondering how this will serve the interests of the people of Lyme Regis...

...or if the council is really interested in promoting the economic, social and environmental well being of the area.

The text of the report follows:

District in Talks to buy empty Premises

WEST Dorset District Council will be looking into the possibility of compulsory purchasing two empty food and drink premises next week.

Cllr Janet Page put forward a motion in July to the council, requesting it to start action on the Three Cups in Lyme Regis, and the Old Swan Public House at Toller Porcorum, both of which have been vacant for a long time, and are owned by Bridport-based Palmers Brewery.

The issue will be discussed at the council's executive committee meeting on Tuesday. However, the recommendation made by David Evans, director of plannning and environment, is to wait for three months to monitor attempts to get the premises open again.

He said: "Steps are now being taken by the owner of Thre Three Cups, Lyme Regis, to prepare a scheme for the renovation and development of the premises, and the offer by the owner of the Old Swan, Toller Porcorum, is to open negotiations to lease the property to a community group on favourable terms.

"In the light of the response to the council's actions, it would be inappropriate to commence the process of compulsory purchase of these properties.

"The council will continue to monitor the condition of these properties and respond to matters of public safety."

Empty Cups - bad for business, bad for Lyme

2009-09-01T21:22:00.002+01:00

David Parker, chairman of the Lyme Regis and District Hotel and Restaurants Association, explained the impact of the empty and derelict state of the famous Three Cups Hotel on his own accommodation business and the tourist trade in Lyme Regis in the latest edition of The Bridport & Lyme Regis News. Click here to read the article.

New Campaign Website

2009-08-21T12:45:00.004+01:00

The Save The Three Cups Hotel Campaign have launched their own website at www.savethethreecupshotel.co.uk.

I recommend that you visit their site and look at all the pages. There is more information there than I have been able to gather from 200 miles away.

I think the photographs of the interior are fascinating. Doesn't that one of the staircase make you want to get some furniture polish out and make that woodwork shine again as it would have done when Maria Garrod was the proprietor and Tolkien was a guest?

Please come back to this blog if you wish to add a comment to any of the postings here.

Diversifying into cultural tourism?

2009-08-15T20:34:00.005+01:00

According to an article in the Bridport News, Palmers Brewery, the owners of The Three Cups, are thinking of re-opening it as a hotel.

To maximise the potential of this famous historical building would require diversification from selling beer into cultural tourism and selling hotel accommodation on historical associations. Both these subjects have been covered many times on this blog and I hope the resources here will be of benefit. In particular, I would draw attention to the various literary societies for authors such as Tolkien, Tennyson, Longfellow, Austen and Chesterton. Students of Whistler and Turner would be interested that they stayed in Lyme Regis and although I have not read that they stayed at The Cups, it would been somewhere they would have visited as it was such a popular destination in their time. And could be again now!

One important source of business for hotels in Lyme Regis which I haven't covered is accommodation for geology field trips or fossil festivals. The Lyme Regis Development Trust are the experts in this area.

The potential is there but it requires a special marketing approach and an understanding of the buyers' needs and aspirations. Just as it seems to be accepted that a new restaurant requires a celebrity chef who loves good food to be successful, The Three Cups needs owners and management who know and love the literature and the history associated with it to make it a must visit destination for tourists from around the world.

What sort of plans?

2009-08-15T07:49:00.005+01:00

A report in the Bridport News says that Palmers have appointed Archial Architects to draw up plans for redeveloping "The Cups".

I've had a quick look at Archial’s website and I saw words like:

large multi-million pound HQ Buildings
speculative projects
owner occupied schemes
purpose built premises
high technology research offices and laboratories

I was hoping to see words like

conservation
historical
cultural
sympathetic
community
sensitive
preservation

But presumably the planning authorities will act in the interests of the community to ensure that The Three Cups will be restored in the interests of the people of Lyme Regis and the English speaking world as an historical monument of great cultural importance and AS A HOTEL where tourists can come and stay.

Enid Blyton and Burton Bradstock

2009-08-15T07:14:00.005+01:00

Literary connections and old fashioned holidays seem to be accepted as a commercially viable concept in Burton Bradstock. Just think how much more successful that combination would be in Lyme Regis with its many associations with famous writers and film stars. Click on "Read the full post" for links to stories from the Bridport News.

Thumbs up for West Dorset's Famous Five hotel PLANS to build a multi-million pound cliff top hotel at Burton Bradstock have been given the go-ahead by councillors.

Famous Five hotel in West Dorset would bring a major boost to local economy MULTI-MILLION-pound plans for a clifftop hotel at Burton Bradstock are expected to get the thumbs-up today – bringing dozens of new jobs and a massive boost for the local economy.

Of course, the big difference between the plans described on the linked articles and The Three Cups is that without the original fabric of the building, it will be impossible to capture the atmosphere of the place where famous writers stayed and thought and wrote and drew and where famous actors performed.

Let the people decide

2009-07-30T17:30:00.006+01:00

According to an article in the Bridport News today, plans are in place to ask every resident in Lyme Regis to sign a petition if they support the aims of the Save The Three Cups AS A HOTEL Action Group.

At the public meeting on 5th June, the 235 people present voted unanimously in favour of preserving The Three Cups Hotel AS A HOTEL. It will be interesting to see how representative that group was.

By the way, in case you missed it, there was a story in the Bridport News on 16th July about discussion of the hotel's future at West Dorset District Council.

And another writer ...

2009-07-11T22:23:00.002+01:00

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stayed at The Three Cups hotel in 1869.

Many thanks to John Dover of the Lyme Regis Museum who has informed me that Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the American Poet, Educator and Linguist stayed with his family at The Cups Hotel in August 1869. It was believed "they were much charmed and delighted by the scenery". Source: Weymouth Telegram dated 6th August 1869 held in Lyme Regis Museum.

Phew! The front of The Three Cups is going to be dazzling when all the blue plaques have been installed for the many famous people who have stayed at this historic HOTEL. Tourists from all over the world are going to be desperate to stay at this HOTEL. What a pity this HOTEL is not open for business. It must be doing a great deal of damage to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the area in its delapidated state. Something really ought to be done about it because Lyme Regis needs HOTELS.

Come on, Lyme Regis

2009-07-05T17:03:00.006+01:00

Just seen this on the Daily Telegraph website: "Great British literary walks". Click on the link to read the article.

Isn't this what it's all about for The Three Cups? The Telegraph article describes 10 tourist locations, each with links to one notable literary figure, indicating that this is sufficient reason to visit. Lyme Regis has associations with at least 4 famous literary names plus other famous people. Lyme Regis is not mentioned by The Telegraph but surely, it should be top of the list.

Isn't tourism important to the local economy? I think we all know the answer. If The Three Cups Hotel were to be re-opened AS A HOTEL, then it would be the flagship attraction for Lyme Regis in the world cultural tourism market.

Forget flats and a retained facade for re-opening The Three Cups. No matter how such a scheme is re-packaged as luxury flats for weekenders or affordable homes or some mix, it will not be the best use of this national treasure and cultural asset. What is needed is The Three Cups as major tourist attraction and provider of hotel rooms. Anything else would be the road to economic stagnation and a cultural backwater. Come on, Lyme Regis councillors. Vote for a future for your residents and your young people.

Smoke and Mirrors

2009-07-03T21:26:00.003+01:00

A new report on the campaign to see The Three Cups Hotel re-opened has appeared in the View From newspaper. Click this link to read it.

Reading this article, I can't help wondering what's going on. Why is the mayor of Lyme Regis talking about a hotel business not being viable after all that was revealed at the public meeting on 5th June about lack of hotel space in her town?

And why are the town councillors going to meet the owners of the hotel behind closed doors?

If anyone has any suggestions, please post them as comments below.

Local, National and International Coverage

2009-06-25T22:23:00.010+01:00

The protest march on 20th June has really started something. Click through for some very interesting links.

There is coverage in the local press. See "Lyme schoolboy fights on to save Three Cups Hotel" and "Over 1,000 people sign protest petition", in The View From Lyme Regis of 24/06/2009.

And in The Times On-Line: "Boy fights to save J.R.R. Tolkien hotel, the Three Cups, in Lyme Regis".

And further afield: "A Boy’s Fight To Save J.R.R. Tolkien Hotel" in OneIndia on-line.

Protest March Photos

2009-06-22T06:07:00.006+01:00

Click on "Read the full post" to see two photographs which show the excellent turnout and evident enthusiasm.

Below: The march along The Parade

Below: The queue to sign the petition

Public Protest March - 20th June

2009-06-19T19:44:00.005+01:00

Help to re-open The Three Cups Hotel. Come to the public protest march in Lyme Regis on Saturday 20th June. Meet on Marine Parade near the amusement arcade at 11:45. Come in costume as someone (or something) from The Lord of The Rings because Tolkien stayed at The Three Cups Hotel.

This is the march which was publicised in The Bridport & Lyme Regis News on 11th June. Many thanks to Leon Howe for organising this event. I'm sorry I will not be able to be there myself but I wish those taking part every success. If the people of Lyme Regis turn out in great numbers to make a public show of their determination to see The Three Cups re-opened, then the march will have succeeded. It will only remain for the elected district councillors to take note of the wishes of the people who they serve and act in their interests.

Leon Howe has asked that marchers appear as characters from Tolkien's books. May I suggest that anyone with suitable attire to represent the following people should do so because they are also associated with The Three Cups Hotel: Jane Austen, G.K. Chesterton, Lord Tennyson, Jeremy Irons and Meryl Streep (as seen in The French Lieutenant's Woman film).

A Vote for Change?

2009-06-18T19:26:00.001+01:00

So far the Conservative led West Dorset District Council has taken no action on compulsory purchase of The Three Cups. Things may be about to change according to a report in the Bridport and Lyme Regis News today.

The Liberal Democrat councillors on West Dorset District Council have submitted a motion for presentation to the Council meeting on 16th July calling on them to begin the process of compulsory purchase for The Three Cups Hotel in Lyme Regis and the Old Swan pub in Toller Porcorum. This will be a wonderful opportunity for West Dorset District Council to respond to the wishes of their voters and support this motion.

The people who attended the meeting in Lyme Regis about The Three Cups on 5th June gave an indication of the strength of feeling for preserving the building in its historic role as a hotel to serve the tourist business of the town: 235 to nil in favour of compulsory purchase. It may not have been a scientifically chosen sample of all residents of Lyme but it is a result which democratically elected local politicians should not ignore.

Coverage, Coverage, Coverage

2009-06-12T19:07:00.003+01:00

They say a hotel needs location, location, location. We know that The Three Cups has got that in the centre of Lyme Regis. In its current sad derelict and decaying state, it has been lacking publicity. Thankfully, that is now being received in plenty due the hard work of The Three Cups Action group and the local press.

The Bridport and Lyme Regis News has a second article about The Three Cups on their website this week. Click here to read about "Anger over plans to revamp Lyme hotel". This, along with their previous article and the coverage in the "View From Lyme Regis", should get the message across to West Dorset District Council: the people of Lyme Regis want The Three Cups re-opened as a hotel. The current owners, Palmers, won't do it. So, West Dorset District councillors should serve the people who elected them and use the powers they have to issue a compulsory purchase order.

The council seems to keep saying that compulsory purchase would cost money, set a bad precedent and it could only be done as a last resort. The campaigners keep responding that the hotel could be sold on at a profit, it would set a good precedent and the last resort has been reached. The people of Lyme Regis don't want to wait any longer because it is costing the economy of their area at least £1,500 every day as long as it remains closed. I hope that the council gets the message.

Optimism for the Future

2009-06-11T21:36:00.005+01:00

I think everyone who was at the meeting in Lyme Regis on 5th June regarding the future of The Three Cups will be feeling optimistic about seeing the hotel open for business. I am even more optimistic for the future of Lyme Regis to see someone as young Leon Howe joining the campaign to save the heritage of his town.

If you read the report in The Lyme Regis News, you will learn about his contribution to the meeting and his commitment to the action group formed then.

Whenever Marcus Dixon of the Lyme Regis Development Trust speaks about the future of The Three Cups Hotel, he pleads for the employment needs of the young people of the town to be taken into account. Obviously, to open The Three Cups again as a hotel would be the best way to bring more tourist business to the area and create jobs. I would say that young people like Leon Howe who are prepared to speak out for what they believe to be right and best for their community deserve a better future. Everyone who can help the campaign should be inspired by Leon to do as much as they can to Save The Three Cups - AS A HOTEL.

Report on Meeting of 5/6/09

2009-06-11T21:21:00.002+01:00

I was going to write my own report on the meeting of The Three Cups Action Group on 5th June but I don't think I can improve on the account provided by the The View From Lyme Regis. Click here to read their on-line report.

PALMERS PLAN FOR FLATS WENT FLAT!

2009-06-07T13:53:00.004+01:00

Palmers clearly felt they needed (just one day before the “Save the Three Cups” Action Meeting in Lyme) to issue a press release to take the headline of Lyme News saying they intended to appoint architects to prepare plans for a multi million pound "makeover" for The Three Cups. We wonder if they still think it was wise to have put out such a release….

In fact their plan was discussed at the Public Meeting in Lyme Regis, next day, on 5th June and an extraordinary number of attenders (235) voted unanimously by 235 people to 0 to completely reject Palmers’ newly announced plan for commercial units, restaurant and high quality flats. Instead the 235 people present all voted unanimously in favour of re-opening the Three Cups as a hotel, and retaining the nature of its grade II–listing, all the more so as the current Lyme Regis hotels just can not cope with demand for hotel beds and urge that the Three Cups re-open as fast as possible as a hotel. (See ‘Hotel Shortage’ below.)

The Three Cups is not just a building or a façade. Its value to the economy of the town is as a hotel. To turn it into flats, doubtless in the end, for weekenders would be to destroy it. It would not be the national treasure that it should be. The meeting saw the hotel’s shape from the map of 1841 – exactly as it is today.

I made copious notes in the meeting but don't have time just now to write up a lengthy report. However, I would say that the mood in Lyme Regis about the dereliction and danger of The Three Cups seems to have changed from quiet desperation to rising anger. And since the last meeting the Westminster Expenses Scandal has created an expectation that politicians even at the local level should be seen to be serving the interests of the people who elected them and not the rich elite. It was very good of Oliver Letwin and Sue Farrant to make the effort to attend.

In view of the above, the legal opinion given without fee, out of public service, by Michael Turner QC was music to my ears and was obviously well received by the meeting. The Cups ticks all the boxes for compulsory purchase and there is no reason why West Dorset District Council should not buy The Cups and sell it on, (by a back-to-back arrangement so that tax-payers money is not used at all), possibly at a profit for the people, to one of the THREE hoteliers who have already expressed interest in buying ALL the building and running it as a hotel. What a pity that Mr David Clarke, CEO, Dr David Evans, Director of Planning and Environment, and Councillor Robert Gould, Leader of WDDC, all turned down the invitations to be there and also failed to provide even one deputy for this very important Public occasion, to hear and debate the wishes of the people. One attender caught the mood of the meeting saying we should run a meeting at a time which - by prior agreement - would ensure the relevant WDDC personnel would be able to be present.

Bridport News completely failed to publicise the meeting and I didn't meet any reporters from the Lyme Regis News. Perhaps they could confirm whether they were interested enough in the will of the people or the legal situation to send a reporter.

NOTE ON SHORTAGE OF HOTELS.
On Friday 5th June the Public Meeting in Lyme Regis heard that the two main hotels in Lyme Regis can not nearly cope with the demand for hotel beds. Lesley Stone, proprietor of the Royal Lion said “We have a very heavy demand for our bedrooms. A re-opening of the Three Cups as a Hotel will definitely succeed, and the sooner it opens the better”. Kathryn Haskins, owner of the Alexandra Hotel says its return as a hotel would be “a fantastic success”, and it would “make a great boutique hotel” and would be “a stunning asset” to the town. “We could fill our rooms two or three times over, and even in winter Lyme’s massive pull as a prime weekend-break location ensures high occupancy rates.” David Parker, Chairman of the Lyme Regis and District Hotels and Restaurants Association says “Tourism is our most important industry. We urgently need more hotel rooms across the board. A re-opened Three Cups will be a big step forward, create employment and bring new spending power to the community.”

Another Unanimous Resolution

2009-06-06T00:42:00.003+01:00

A meeting of The Three Cups Action group was held in Lyme Regis tonight (5th June). It was more strongly supported than the Community Action on Pubs meeting on 24th April. 235 people were present this time. As with the previous meeting, a vote was taken and all 235 people were for immediate Compulsory Purchase of The Three Cups to be sold on as a hotel to avoid the building being converted to flats by the currrent owner (Palmers). It looks like something is really going to happen this time. More details later.

Prove Him Wrong

2009-06-02T19:52:00.004+01:00

"Politicians don't care about heritage", said Griff Rhys Jones in a recent Daily Telegraph article. I hope that politicians will show that they do care about The Three Cups after the meeting about the hotel's future on Friday 5th June. (See details below.)

After all, what is at stake is not just the limited hotel accommodation in Lyme Regis but part of our national heritage. In these uncertain times, we need every artifact of our history accessible to remind us of our culture and maintain social cohesion.

Many writers are associated with Lyme Regis. Tolkien wrote myths which work through his knowledge of words and the history of languages. Chesterton wove together myth and history and theology. Jane Austen charms readers with novels of her contemporary society. In The Three Cups Hotel, we have a work of architecture, associated with all these writers, which is the central feature of Broad Street which is the main thoroughfare of Lyme Regis which should be the most famous Georgian resort town in Britain for its cultural connections.

However, as long as this famous building stands empty and derelict, life is draining from Lyme Regis and our culture. And the answer is not a block of flats to turn Lyme Regis into a Costa Geriatrica. Lyme Regis needs jobs and young people.

Another Item for the Agenda

2009-05-16T09:00:00.003+01:00

I'm sure that the meeting in Lyme Regis on 5th June to discuss the future of The Three Cups Hotel will be an exciting affair with many ideas under examination. Here is another one.

A BBC report, "New plans to stop 'ghost towns'", describes goverment plans to find new uses for high street shops which have lost their traditional customers to the recession or out of town malls.

As far as I am aware, The Three Cups Hotel is the only derelict commercial property on Broad Street so the overall situation in Lyme Regis is not as bad as Stockport (featured in the BBC report) but this government inititative offers help to those working to re-open empty business premises.

I don't think that there is any need to consider a change of use for The Three Cups. Twenty years ago, traditional customers may have gone elsewhere but now there is a growing market this famous hotel:

- as a Jurassic Coast study centre
- as a destination for cultural tourists
- accommodation for cultural tourists
- as a tourist attraction in itself

As stated previously, cultural tourists and visitors could include those interested in Tolkien, Jane Austen, Beatrix Potter, G.K. Chesterton, Hilaire Belloc, Lord Tennyson, Turner, Whistler and Charlie Chaplin. Lyme Regis can also expect more visitors as fewer British people take their holidays abroad.

Hopefully all the above would prevent Broad Street in Lyme Regis from ever being blighted again by a commercial property left empty for so long.

However, if plans for compulsory purchase of the hotel are to go ahead, a business plan for the new owners must be put together and any help the government can give would be most welcome.

Next Steps

2009-05-12T21:48:00.002+01:00

Following the successful meeting in Bridport last month, the next step forward will be a Public Meeting at the Woodmead Hall in Lyme Regis Fri 5th June at 7:15pm to discuss how to SAVE THE THREE CUPS HOTEL. More details to follow.

Thoughts from Dublin

2009-05-09T11:53:00.013+01:00

On Wednesday of this week I had the pleasure of travelling to Dublin on business and I couldn't help but be impressed by the way visitors are made aware of the cultural and literary heritage of the city in such tasteful ways.

My first appointment was on Abbey Street which hardly needs publicising so famous is its theatre. I walked from there to O'Connell Street for lunch, seeing the statue of the great politician and speaker after whom this central space is named. A little further on, I spotted a statue of James Joyce of human scale, "standing" casually just down a side street. (See photograph on right. For copyright notice, see end of article.)

As I sat in the lounge of The Gresham Hotel, looking out on O'Connell Street, I was aware of a tremendous sense of history. I think that the proprietors appreciate that this is part of the experience of visiting their hotel as can be seen from the history page of their website. I believe that visitors to a re-opened Three Cups in Lyme Regis could also enjoy a sense of history by being in a place with so many links to national culture.

For me the sense of cultural heritage was increased by seeing the magnificent buildings of Trinity College Dublin so near the centre of the city. That is something which Lyme Regis does not possess on a similar scale but I always enjoy seeing the collection of buildings at the bottom of Church Street including the Guildhall and the Museum.

On this visit to Dublin, my business did not take me to the Temple Bar area or Grafton Street which are also noted for their cultural connections and occasional statuary. This rather begs the question as to whether Lyme Regis would benefit from some statues of the many famous figures from its cultural history. Of course, many of them including Tolkien, Chesterton and Austen would be linked to The Three Cups and perhaps Broad Street would get rather crowded. Alternatively, busts of these writers could be placed around the walls of a lounge in The Three Cups to entice visitors to enjoy the ambience and perhaps inspiration of being guests of the re-established hotel.

However, I thought that the most impressive public art in Dublin and which should be an inspiration for Lyme Regis was at the airport. Throughout the lounge area for arrivals and departures there are storey height ground glass screens separating the walkway from various cafes and bars. These are inscribed with the names, images and quoted words of famous Irish writers associated with Dublin such as Joyce, O'Casey and Synge. I was captivated by the screen nearest to my departure gate which depicted W.B. Yeats with lines from his poem "Sailing to Byzantium". There is something haunting about harbours and prospects of journeying across the sea which Lyme Regis has in abundance and which could attract travellers and tourists and hotel guests from around the world at many times of year.

Even in these days of controversial expense claims, I would suggest that it would be justifiable for decision makers involved in developing tourism in Lyme Regis to travel across the water to Dublin's fair city and see how things can be done so effectively and with great style.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE. Photograph from Wikipedia article on James Joyce: "James Joyce statue next to O'Connell street in Dublin". This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 2.5 License. In short: you are free to share and make derivative works of the file under the conditions that you appropriately attribute it, and that you distribute it only under a license identical to this one. Official license.

My Account of The Meeting on 24/4/09

2009-04-28T12:55:00.003+01:00

I have to say that since I started this blog I have become increasingly concerned about the way our elected politicians generally seem to becoming detached from those they represent. So, although I was very involved in the Community Action on Pubs meeting last Friday night, I also felt I was observing an attempt at grass roots democracy for the first time. Did it succeed? Well, you may form an opinion after reading my report but I think we should wait a little longer to see how those in power respond.

A Report on the Meeting of Community Alert on Pubs held on 24/4/09 at the Electric Palace Cinema in Bridport

Here are the key points from my personal perspective:

The meeting was held to air views on the closure of village pubs and The Three Cups, owned by Palmers Brewery, and a Hall & Woodhouse pub. John Grantham of Community Alert on Pubs chaired the meeting and opened proceedings, outlining the situation with pub closures generally. The panel was introduced:

Nigel Jones of Humberts – Palmers Property Agent
David Evans – Planning and Environment Director of West Dorset District Council
Robert Gould – Leader of West Dorset District Council
Sue Farrant – Liberal Democrat, Parliamentary Candidate

No members of Palmers board of directors accepted an invitation to attend. The chairman said this was deeply to be regretted. Nigel Jones said that he was authorised to speak on their behalf. The Chairman, John Grantham, said that while saluting Mr Jones’ time and courage in attending the event, we could not presume that he would be able to talk of what the Palmers Board would think at various stages, as points of new information would arise that he felt certain would be likely to affect such individuals’ positions on key issues.

The question of village pubs was dealt with by considering the case of the derelict Old Swan in Toller Procorum.

Nigel Jones spoke first, stating that Palmers own pubs to sell beer and should be allowed to close outlets if not viable. Regarding destination pubs, he claimed Palmers are experts and know which pubs would persuade people "to get in their car and go and have a drink". He referred to car parks, views, and outstanding buildings as key factors for such premises but made no reference to cultural heritage or the potential of tourists from outside their area.

Robert Gould said some good things about helping businesses and the importance of tourism, building safety and new and innovative solutions. He was challenged over late action on safety measures.

Sue Farrant talked about the benefits of community pubs and presented ideas aimed at slowing down their rate of closure. She said that local communities must be involved in the closure of pubs, especially the last one in a village and that restrictive covenants should be outlawed. She introduced the idea that Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) should be used by local authorities in such cases.

Michael Turner QC on behalf of CAP explained the law surrounding Compulsory Purchase. Compulsory Purchase can be used for the promotion or improvement of the economic, social or environmental well being of an area. Only one condition is necessary; The Old Swan meets all three. It was emphasised that the use of a CPO need not be expensive for a council because a building could be bought (at retail value) and sold in a day, possibly at a profit.

Val Connolly spoke eloquently and passionately about the sad demise of The Old Swan. This did not sound like the inevitable decline of a business into an unviable state but sabotage by the owners as the interior was stripped on closure, preventing others making a go of the business. The statue of a swan, which gave character to the building and the village was also removed from the exterior and has since been lost. The villagers’ action committee has applied to WDDC for a CPO to run the pub as a free house but have RECEIVED NO RESPONSE.

In the questions which followed Val's presentation, Nigel Jones said that Palmers were the experts on whether The Old Swan was viable or not. According to him, there was nothing special about the building; it is like any other residential property. The villagers could open their own pub in another building. These comments suggested to me that Palmers are interested in property development as well as selling beer.

Enquiries were made about a supposed secret meeting between Palmers, WDDC and one or two individuals from Toller Porcorum. This was denied by Robert Gould. The villagers seemed unconvinced.

Sue Farrant claimed that Palmers had told her that Compulsory Purchase had been ruled out. Robert Gould denied this. Another question asked specifically if the council had ruled out Compulsory Purchase. We were given a lot of flannel about financial considerations and if it was easy, it would have been tried elsewhere.

John Grantham moved on to his presentation about The Three Cups which included the 90 second video clip from the BBC Spotlight programme of 26/3/09. John went through the sad decline of the hotel into its current state of dilapidation which has been covered previously on this blog. He stressed the slow response of the council to risks of falling debris. I would have expected the council to have moved immediately, forcing the owners to make the building safe at whatever cost. If the grass filled gutter on the front of the building fell down and killed passers-by, there would have been some questions to answer about why Palmers were not made to effect appropriate repairs. (Between WDDC and Palmers it took 11 days to get effective safety railing installed on the pavement. It took 22 days between notification to Palmers of the problem and the guttering being cleared by Palmers.)

David Parker, Chairman of the Lyme Regis Hotels and Restaurants Association spoke about the negative impact of the empty Three Cups building on the tourist trade in Lyme Regis. He had a personal interest in the problem of falling debris as he lives next door and is very concerned about the risk to himself and his property.

The risks of break-ins, vandalism and fire were emphasised with statements from the fire and police authorities.

Marcus Dixon of the Lyme Regis Development Trust spoke of the effect of loss of business caused by the vacant Three Cups and the effect on the prospects and well being of the young people in the town. He has found real potential for bringing visitors to Lyme Regis in its position on the Jurassic Coast as a world heritage site. He has various national organisations wanting to bring study groups to the town and a representative from UNESCO will be speaking at his next fossil festival. Marcus would like to open The Three Cups as a Jurassic Coast Study Centre but can't move. (I have been wondering since what the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will think when they see such a cultural treasure as The Three Cups lying empty and decaying.)

I went on the platform to explain how and why I started this blog. I ended by saying that the re-opened Three Cups should be more than another hotel, it should be the most famous tourist attraction in Lyme Regis, like the Tower in Blackpool, the Castle in Edinburgh or Raffles Hotel in Singapore, attracting visitors from around the world.

Claire Edge who is related to Maria Garrod, proprietor of The Three Cups when Tolkien first stayed was in the meeting. Her father spoke of his amazement that this cultural asset should be left unused.

Moving on quickly because of time constraints, John Grantham mentioned the White Hart at Beaminster as another Palmer's eyesore. He had also spoken to the owners of a different White Hart, the one at the bottom of the High Street in Dorchester, whose owners, the Hall and Woodhouse brewery, had been very approachable and helpful (and - in obtaining permission to demolish this pub - had nevertheless made provision for the moving of the White Hart statue to a planned central position in the new gardens, and for an Interpretation Board to be created which would include information on mentions of the pub in various Thomas Hardy novels.)

There was another time for questions from the floor. The professionals were asked if they were proud of the state of the buildings. In answering this Nigel Jones told us something of Palmers intentions for The Three Cups. He started by saying that it was closed because it was not viable. In view of his earlier comments, this could have meant not viable as an outlet for Palmer’s beer. However, he said something interesting about how Palmer’s wanted to do something really exciting during the property boom of the 90s. Did he mean open more bars to sell beer? Is it more likely this meant that Palmers want to make a killing on a property development which would not serve the interests of local people. I’m glad Marcus Dixon picked up on this in a question or I would have definitely said something.

Whatever that really exciting project was, Palmers were prepared to appoint one of the best consulting engineers in the UK (no expense spared) to resolve any geological problems with the building. Then it seemed that the works which the council planned in the garden of the hotel, beyond the car park forced Palmers to leave the building empty much longer. We have seen from events in Toller Porcorum that it is sometimes in Palmers’ interest to leave buildings of architectural and cultural interest to rot. As a civil engineer, I do not believe that the geological problems of the site are insuperable.

Sue Farrant gave a message to Nigel Jones for the directors of Palmers that they should be showing more social responsibility. This struck a chord with those attending the meeting and was enthusiastically applauded.

Someone added from the floor that the councillors should remember they were elected to serve those who had elected them. This was also well received by those in the audience.

Michael Turner QC spoke again to try and make sense of the council’s apparent refusal to use the powers of compulsory purchase. He reminded Robert Gould that he has no power to tell Palmers that compulsory purchase will not be used. Gould tried to tell us again that the use of a CPO would not be financially viable without explaining why he did not agree Turner’s argument that a profit could be made. He preferred discussion and dialogue. The good people of West Dorset attending the meeting obviously thought otherwise judging by their very vocal response to his repetition.

John Grantham closed the meeting by asking for votes from those in the audience on whether they wanted the council to use compulsory purchase orders to save The Old Swan at Toller Porcorum and The Three Cups. Out of an estimated 150 people present none voted against. Two abstained on the first vote, including myself as I have never been to the village. One abstained on the second vote (not me!). All others voted for compulsory purchase.

Val Connolly quoted Barak Obama with reference to the use of CPOs, saying that the council’s attitude should be “Yes, we can”. I would add that the question no longer seems to be “If” but “When” CPOs should be used to rescue the architectural heritage of West Dorset from Palmers’ clutches. So, I would like to quote another president of the USA, Dwight D. Eisenhower (who was also a guest at The Three Cups). I believe that as Eisenhower made the agonising decision on the eve of D-Day about when to launch the invasion of Europe, he said "Let's do it". If the action to save The Three Cups is left much longer, it will be too late. LET'S DO IT. The Second World War was fought to preserve our freedom and democracy. It would be good for the councillors of West Dorset to listen to the local electorate at this time.

100% for Compulsory Purchase

2009-04-25T00:53:00.003+01:00

Much to my surprise, I was able to attend the Community Alert on Pubs meeting in Bridport tonight. More news to follow but I would summarise the outcome of the meeting as, of about 150 people in attendance, 100% who voted were for the compulsory purchase of The Three Cups by West Dorset Council and, in a vote on The Swan village pub, 100% were for compulsory purchase.

Don't Forget - Friday 24th April

2009-04-21T19:06:00.001+01:00

Come to a Public Meeting staged by “Community Alert on Pubs” to discuss The Three Cups and empty village pubs at The Electric Palace, South Street, Bridport at 7.15pm on Friday 24th April 2009. (Doors open 6.45pm) This is YOUR opportunity to have YOUR say. The meeting is an opportunity for ‘The Voice of the People’ to be expressed.

Opportunity or Threat?

2009-04-16T17:29:00.003+01:00

Jeremy Irons has been criticised for speaking out about the dilapidated state of The Three Cups Hotel but is there another way of looking at this situation? Click on this link to read the story in The Bridport News.

The owners of The Three Cups seem to see conservation as a threat. I would see it as an opportunity. I do not imagine a restored Three Cups as a lifeless time-capsule; I imagine it as full of life and visitors and guests. I would like to see it as a major attraction, being profitable in itself and bringing in business for the whole of Lyme Regis and the surrounding area.

I think any marketing analysis would show that the best return on this asset would come from trading on its history and literary heritage. And the best aid to achieving that business success would be an endorsement from a celebrated actor who has appeared in a famous film which featured the hotel.

Lyme Regis has suffered for too long from the sad spectacle of this famous hotel decaying in its centre. I would propose that the greatest tourist attraction in Lyme Regis should not be The Cobb (breakwater) but The Three Cups Hotel. However, no one would want to see it its current state. (Apologies to fans of Jane Austen and John Fowles but I trained as a civil engineer so that takes some saying.)

National News

2009-04-12T08:55:00.003+01:00

The Daily Telegraph has reported on Jeremy Irons' support for Community Alert on Pubs and his call for action on derelict pubs in Dorset and of course the famous but sadly decaying Three Cups Hotel. Click on this link to view the article.

Jeremy Irons Joins Campaign

2009-04-10T17:36:00.007+01:00

Seeing The Three Cups as front page news in the View from Lyme Regis newspaper this week is a great encouragement and has got a lot of people talking about the future of the hotel.

I wrote a post yesterday about the dangerous state of the building which was the main headline in the View story. The other revelation in the article which is important for efforts to save The Three Cups is the weight Jeremy Irons has added to the campaign by his comments on the subject.

Jeremy Irons played the leading role of Charles Henry Smithson in the 1981 film version of John Fowles' novel, The French Lieutenant's Woman, which featured The Three Cups and Lyme Regis. So his comments are all the more valuable. According to the exclusive report by Philip Evans in the View:

"In an e-mail to John Grantham, the leader of Community Alert on Pubs, Mr Irons said: 'It seems to me that owners leaving a building abandoned for a long period of time, when that building is part of the local community, should be prosecuted for vandalism to our built heritage.

I cannot believe that the local authorities do not have the power of compulsory purchase in such a case and I hope that they may be prompted into using such power on behalf of the people of Lyme Regis and all of us who value our irreplaceable architectural heritage.'"

If you would like to add your support to John Grantham's campaign, please make sure you attend the public meeting to be held at the Electric Palace in Bridport on Friday 24th April.

Getting Serious

2009-04-09T21:46:00.011+01:00

It has now become public knowledge that the dilapidated state of The Three Cups is not only a terrible waste of a valuable international cultural treasure but also a danger to people walking along Broad Street in Lyme Regis.

The story was headline news in the "View from Lyme Regis", a widely read free community newspaper, this week.

John Grantham has been looking closely at the fabric of The Three Cups lately and having become aware of the danger of falling debris, brought the situation to the attention of the powers that be. It now seems more than likely that the owners will be served with a statutory Urgent Works Notice. This is obviously most welcome to prevent injury to the public and prevent further decay of the building. Personally, I am looking forward to the day when refurbishment begins for a full re-opening and The Three Cups will become an attraction which people flock into rather than avoid out of fear.

The Importance of Chesterton - Spuceerth

2009-04-09T20:53:00.009+01:00

There are now many articles on newspaper websites about holidays at home for British people this year. I was looking out for something relevant and saw this one which refers to the writing of G.K. Chesterton.

Whilst the main aim of my blog is to promote the re-opening of The Three Cups Hotel because of its long association with J.R.R. Tolkien, we should not ignore the connection with G.K. Chesterton for a number of reasons.

The first and most obvious is that the fame of Chesterton although sadly less than that of Tolkien would help to attract visitors to Lyme Regis if the hotel were open and publicising its connection with him.

Secondly, Chesterton gives a philosophy of holidays in one's own country and explains how we can see the familiar in a new light. I will not attempt to expound this here. I would recommend reading some of the great man's many books and let him explain the ideas with his great wit. However, some of the ideas relate to myth and fantasy and seeing things from the inside rather than the outside.

I would suggest that a visitor to Lyme Regis from beyond the West Country of England will be charmed by the archetypal rolling English countryside and the beautiful seaside at first sight. But for those with an appreciation of the fiction which has been written in and about this area, their imaginations would illuminate all they see with a magic to thrill them more than all the vast expanses of far flung continents. That fiction includes the works of Jane Austen, Thomas Hardy and John Fowles as well as Tolkien. And, as mentioned previously, one of Beatrix Potter's stories (Little Pig Robinson) was set in Lyme Regis.

As for not being being on the outside, Chesteron remarked how different the world would look if one were on the inside of a coffee room looking out rather than the other way round. One would see the words "Mooreeffoc" in the window for one thing. How much different Lyme Regis would appear if one were enjoying a drink in the same bar as Chesteron and Tolkien took their refreshment while on holiday. One couldn't help be moved to consider what imaginative and creative thoughts had whirled around inside The Spuceerth as you looked out on the beatiful old town buildings from the charm of a refurbished Georgian hotel.

TV News Coverage - click on Full Post for link

2009-03-28T12:28:00.005Z

Thanks to the sterling efforts of John Grantham, an account of the plight of The Three Cups Hotel and other licenced premises left derelict by Palmers Brewery has been broadcast on BBC TV.

BBC Spotlight featured a news item on 26/03/09 about John Grantham's campaign, "Community Alert on Pubs", and showed the shocking state of dilapidation into which the The Three Cups has descended. Click here to watch the video clip.

It was good to see and hear Marcus Dixon of the Lyme Regis Development Trust talking about the potential for the building to be re-opened so that it can add to the commercial life of Lyme Regis instead of being an eyesore and a wasted opportunity.

A study centre for natural history is just one of many uses which would bring visitors to Lyme Regis requiring accomodation. Let's not forget the literary connections and the huge potential for cultural tourism which could put Lyme Regis on the map with Stratford upon Avon and Wordsworth's Cottage in The Lake District.

Momentum is Growing

2009-03-27T21:37:00.003Z

The Bridport and Lyme Regis News has reported on John Grantham's campaign to re-open licenced premises closed by Palmers' Brewery including The Three Cups Hotel.

Click on this link to read the report. As you will see from my comment, I believe that it would be better to always refer to The Three Cups as a hotel rather than a pub. The building would not have become famous if Tolkien, Chesterton and Tennyson had not stayed there. And it would not have featured in the film, The French Lieutenant's Woman, if it had been just a pub.

Well Done, Wellworths

2009-03-12T06:52:00.004Z

What good news about Claire Robertson reopening the former Woolworth's store in Dorchester under the name Wellworths! She recognised the potential of the store and the market for its product lines even though the former owners closed it down.

I wish her and her colleagues every success with their new venture.

Let's hope someone or some group with a similar entrepreneurial spirit will come forward to reopen The Three Cups Hotel. Perhaps that will be an inspiration to others to reopen some of the closed village pubs in Dorset or vice versa.

Click on this link to see a BBC news report.

More Publicity

2009-03-09T20:30:00.006Z

Dave Sampson has kindly added a link to this blog from his website, MyLittleBoozer.com to help publicise the cause of saving The Three Cups and community pubs around the country which John Grantham is campaigning for (see below).

More Action

2009-03-09T20:24:00.002Z

John Grantham has launched a website, called "Community Alert on Pubs" to publicise his campaign to preserve village pubs and neglected hotels and inns such as The Three Cups. Click on this link to visit the site. Please add your comments to support the campaign.

French Lieutenant's Woman may be set for remake

2009-02-18T16:45:00.002Z

This is an interesting development. Click on this link to read the story from the Bridport and Lyme Regis News.

I think anyone who saw the original film will know that The Cobb is not the only Lyme Regis landmark to feature prominently in the film; The Three Cups hotel also has a starring role. No doubt the makers of the new film will not be amused to find the famous inn closed and derelict.

On a more postive note, if there is a remake of French Lieutenant's Woman in Lyme Regis (Where else could it be?), then there ought to be enough tourism generated through the film to justify re-opening The Three Cups. I expect that there will be more British people taking holidays in this country in the near future than in the many years since The Three Cups was closed.

A chance to have your say and move things forward

2009-02-15T22:07:00.003Z

A meeting is to be held in Bridport to discuss the shut and dilapidating Three Cups at Lyme Regis and two other West Dorset “eyesore” pubs also owned by Palmers Group on Friday 24th April.

With the Three Cups at Lyme Regis now shut for over 20 years, (to the real distress of local residents, shopkeepers, tourists and Town Council); the Old Swan at Toller Porcorum shut and dilapidating for over 10 years (despite the villagers’ burning desire to have their village pub open); and the White Hart at Beaminster shut, empty and dilapidating, despite the support of the Town and District councils…….an urgent meeting has been called by a member of the public, an ex-Acting Director of the Dorset County Museum, John Grantham.

“It seems incredible that in a part of the world as beautiful as West Dorset, which we hold in trust for future generations, ‘we’ nevertheless contrive to create our own eyesores” says John Grantham. “A small group of us has therefore decided to enable the missing party in this equation – ‘The Public’ - to piece together the full position, and at last to have their say. We have therefore booked The Electric Palace at Bridport as the venue for a meeting to start at 7.15pm on Friday 24th April 2009. It is our aim that everyone who wants to say something on this issue can do so before we go home”

The crisis facing pubs generally will be examined, then the positions on the 3 eyesores and the threat of more. Representatives of each of the 3 main political parties plan to attend – to speak and be on the panel – and one or two additional speakers will be selected from several who have requested to participate, as the programme is finalised.

This first meeting will gather in the thoughts of the public and lead to a plan of action.

“Whether 5 people, 37 or over 50 people give up their evening on Friday 24th April to attend, this will be the start of a plan to clearly lay the issues on each of the 3 eyesores in front of the public, to seek the proprietor’s urgent action to resolve them. The fact that Palmers have already refused to attend the meeting will not deflect the meeting in any way from its task, and a communication will be sent to them shortly after the meeting”.

Further information on the agenda and speakers will be added at least 2-weekly to this website.

John Grantham,
15-2-09

More Competitor Analysis

2009-02-13T13:11:00.010Z

I recently had the pleasure of staying at the Plough and Harrow Hotel in Birmingham where Tolkien was once a guest. Swallow Hotels have made sure that customers and potential customers are aware of this connection by naming the dining room "The Tolkien Restaurant".

There is also a blue plaque outside to commemorate Tolkien's visit.

The owners do not just rely on dinner, bed and breakfast for their trade. The hotel is advertised for civil ceremonies, wedding receptions, conferences and small business events. They also hold murder/mystery nights throughout the year. A hotel in Lyme Regis could also exploit the potential for arts events for which the town is well known and perhaps even host lectures on its literary connections for visiting tourists.

Competitor Analysis

2009-02-12T18:05:00.002Z

... is an important part of developing marketing plans. The Greene King brewery seems to be doing very well with "Old English Inns". Click on this link to have look.

The Three Cups in The News

2009-02-12T17:57:00.002Z

But not much good news I'm afraid. Click on this link to read the latest from The Bridport News.

Economic Climate Favours Holidays in England

2009-01-06T13:10:00.003Z

There have been various reports of increased demand for holidays in the UK from people who would normally go abroad. See "Surge in UK holiday enquiries". This could be a good time to consider (re)opening a seaside hotel.

A good life in Dorset

2008-12-14T18:39:00.002Z

I was attracted by the headline for this story "Britain's oldest worker dies at 105". Then I was even more interested that this man, Jim Webber, had lived in Dorset.

This is just the sort of faithful worker, almost a yeoman farmer, who Tolkien so admired and wrote about. Some say that Hobbits were a celebration of the qualities which Tolkien loved in ordinary English folk. I dare say you could think of characters in Tolkien's Hobbiton who resembled this man. But I wonder how Jim Webber would have explained his own longevity. I doubt that it was due to any magic ring. Could it have had anything to do with the refreshing draughts of ale available at the New Inn where he worked for so many years?

According to the Palmer's Brewery website, there is a New Inn at Stoke Abbot which they own. (I haven't been able to check if this is the same pub where Jim worked. Perhaps someone could put me right on that.) If you follow the link to Palmer's web page for The New Inn, you will that this pub is "Back on the map after 15 years." I'm not sure if this means re-opened or refurbished but wouldn't it be nice to read that of The Three Cups in Lyme Regis?

Read on and you will see potential customers of The New Inn are tempted by "Traditional home cooked fayre served 7 days week. Sunday roasts our speciality." I'm sure that is the kind of temptation that J.R.R. Tolkien would have happily succumbed to and so would many fans of his books who are still active and would love to take their holidays in Dorset, where Tollers took his, to enjoy the sea, the English countryside and the local ale.

Middle-earth theme park in Spain?!

2008-12-10T19:53:00.006Z

It seems like a long way to go to experience something related to Tolkien's fantasy writings but if you are visiting Spain you may be interested in the story to be found on this HollywoodJesus special features page.

Tolkien fans who live in England or are visiting the country where he lived might be more interested in seeing some of the places where he went on holiday and wrote his books like Lyme Regis. I'm sure a great many of them would pay to stay in a hotel where he was a guest many times, namely The Three Cups.