Work to install a permanent white pergola at Julian Dunkerton’s Number 131 on the Promenade in Cheltenham is scheduled to begin this summer. The new structure will provide formal cover for the restaurant’s outdoor seating area, replacing temporary marquees that have caused controversy.
Since October 2020, white marquees have stood outside the luxury boutique hotel and restaurant to allow outdoor dining amid the coronavirus pandemic. Initially installed as a short-term solution, these temporary tents replaced parasols during a time when indoor dining was restricted.
However, after Covid-19 restrictions eased, proposals to retain the marquees for another two years were rejected by Cheltenham Borough Council in November 2022. This decision was reaffirmed by a planning inspector in the summer of 2023, leading to enforcement action against the tents—which is currently under appeal with the Planning Inspectorate.
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Following this, plans for a sleek metal pergola with a retractable roof outside Number 131 were approved in February 2023. Many locals and conservationists, however, have expressed frustration that the temporary marquees—dubbed “tatty tents” by critics—remain in place.
Andrew Booton, Chairman of Cheltenham Civic Society, highlighted the conflict between commercial interests and heritage preservation. He acknowledged the hospitality sector’s importance to the local economy but stressed that the tents, originally permitted as a short-term measure, detract from the character of the Conservation Area and the Grade II* listed buildings they front. Booton emphasized that Lucky Onion, the managing company, should swiftly remove the temporary tents and complete the permanent pergola installation to preserve the area’s historic appearance.
A spokesperson for Number 131 told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that while the intention to replace the tents with a permanent structure remains, logistical challenges and planning processes delayed the originally planned January start for construction. In the meantime, additional temporary marquees were erected to manage the increased demand during Cheltenham Race Week. These tents provide necessary weather protection and essential amenities such as extra toilets. The spokesperson reassured the public that these tents are strictly temporary and will be removed shortly after the festival.
Regarding the permanent pergola, the spokesperson confirmed that final bids for construction were still being reviewed and that work is now expected to begin in June. They affirmed the company’s commitment to advancing the plans and maintaining communication with relevant authorities.
Cheltenham Borough Council has no new updates on the enforcement proceedings concerning the temporary tents. The Planning Inspectorate continues to review the appeal against the Enforcement Notice that mandates the tents’ removal. Enforcement action remains on hold until the appeal is resolved, preventing the Council from taking further steps at this time.