Big tents for hundreds of guests at Bracknell pub and hotel can stay

The Admiral Cunningham pub in the Priestwood area also serves a 3-star hotel, providing a mix of single, double and triple rooms for guests. 

The pub, which has regular music events, previously had a marquee which was used from September to April each year first put up in 2017. 

But since 2020, this marquee was replaced with three stretched tents, providing space for as many as 400 patrons. 

An aerial view of the big tents at the Admiral Cunningham pub and hotel in the Priestwood area of Bracknell. (Image: Google Maps)

The management of the pub applied to keep the tents, submitting a noise management plan to demonstrate how music levels will be dealt with going forward. 

The plan groups events when the tents are used in a traffic light system of green, amber and red.

Green events involve music which are at a lower noise level. 

Meanwhile, volume levels are higher for amber level events. According to the pub's planning agents, these usually consist of low level soul and funk music in the garden.

Furthermore, amber level events would only happen up to seven times per year, with neighbours being notified at least a month prior to the event occurring. 

The loudest events designated red level would happen in autumn and winter, when council planning officer judged residents are likely to have their windows closed.

However, concerns lingered over the impact the events, which were voiced during a meeting of the council's planning committee. 

Councillor Naheed Ejaz (Labour, Great Hollands) said: "It mentions that these tents are mostly going to be used in autumn time when most residents are indoors. 

"But we know that in reality that doesn't happen, they are more popular when it is sunny and hot and people like to sit out in the open air like they are doing now. 

"If you go there these days, you see people are mostly outside rather than inside, so that really doesn't add up." 

The council's ability to force the tents to be removed is limited, as they have been in place since 2020. 

Cllr Tricia Brown (Labour, Priestwood & Garth) said: "The tents are legal only insofar as it enables seating for more than 400 people in the garden. 

"The houses are very closeby, so I find this very difficult." 

There are neighbouring homes in Priestwood Court Road. 

Ultimately, the committee sided with the officer's recommendation to approve the noise management plan, but by a narrow margin with only three members of the committee voting for it.

The plan was discussed at the meeting on August 15 and approved by notice on August 19.