A planning bid to install a seasonal wedding marquee and riverside gazebo at Bridge Hotel in Brandon has been refused – but the owners say the decision is far from the end of the road. Instead, they insist the refusal will help them return with a stronger, more refined application in the near future.
Owner Matt Arnold said the family had anticipated the outcome and deliberately allowed the process to run its course after seeking informal advice from the team at Shepherds Baa in Lynford – a café that, having faced its own planning battles, has first-hand experience of how challenging rural applications can be. He said the refusal had effectively provided “a checklist” of improvements needed for the resubmission.
In a statement released following the decision, Mr Arnold said:
“When our recent planning application for a seasonal wedding marquee and riverside gazebo was refused, some might have expected frustration. In reality, we welcomed it. After taking expert advice from the fantastic team at Shepherds Baa in Lynford – veterans of planning challenges – we let the application run its course. A refusal, they noted, provides the most accurate checklist of what needs addressing for a successful approval next time. And that’s exactly what we now have.
“But the process also brought a few misconceptions to the surface – particularly from a tiny handful of objectors – and a couple of those deserve clarification.
“One claim suggested we were planning gatherings of 200 to 400 people, as though we intended to host a festival on the banks of the Little Ouse. The truth is far simpler: our maximum wedding size is 80 guests. Not 400. Not 200. Eighty. It’s a limit we set ourselves because an intimate scale suits the gardens, the atmosphere, and the experience we want to offer local couples.
“And we understand this market. Every year we welcome hundreds of guests attending weddings at the brilliant Hockwold Hall – a venue we admire enormously. Our aim is simply to provide a more affordable, local alternative for brides and families who want beauty without the premium price tag.
“For long-time Brandon residents, weddings at Riverside Lodge evoke memories of my parents, Don and Chris Arnold, who for years hosted receptions in our gardens purely for the love of the community. They hardly made a penny from them – it was simply their way of giving back. Now in their late 80s, they remain central to everything we do and still refuse to take wages, preferring to help steward the family business that has grown from those early days.
“Together, we’re now planning further landscaping within Riverside Lodge’s gardens so that, in time, we can offer wedding settings on either side of the river we’re so lucky to own and protect.
“Because of their decades of service – from my mum leading the resurfacing of the town tennis courts to my dad’s tireless work on the Playing Fields Committee and his proud involvement with Thetford Singers – it hurts them deeply when a tiny minority directs negativity our way. But the overwhelming support from the wider community is what keeps us moving forward.
“The family now intends to revise and resubmit the application, addressing the issues raised by planners in the refusal notice. While it remains unclear how the planning authority will view a revised proposal, we are committed to working through every concern to secure a small-scale, locally focused wedding venue they believe would benefit the town.
“For those with long memories, my journey in Brandon’s food scene began at The Peacock Grill Bar and Restaurant in the 1980s. Back then, I was a young chef turning out steaks and burgers before leaving the town in 1983 to pursue a career that eventually took me to ITV and GMTV. Today, that site thrives as Ali’s Kebabs, a testament to the enduring culinary spirit of the area – and a reminder that our town’s food culture has deep roots.
“After returning to Brandon in 2010, I dedicated four years to planning the relaunch of the Bridge Hotel, combining my experience in hospitality and media to transform the site into the vibrant community hub it is today.
“Our journey has also been shaped by the incredible people who’ve supported us over the years. When we opened our Brewery House annexe in 2017, we were honoured to welcome Fiona Phillips – one of Britain’s best-loved television presenters – to officially launch it. She arrived with her husband, Martin Frizell, my former boss at GMTV and later the long-standing editor of This Morning.
“Their presence wasn’t about celebrity sparkle; it was a testament to enduring friendships and their belief in what we were building here in Brandon.
“When I relaunched the Bridge Hotel in 2014 – following a career that took me from Royal Navy pilot training to ITV and GMTV – the staff list was short. I was the breakfast chef. Silvia, now our exceptional manager, was the cleaner. That was it.
“A decade on, we proudly employ between 13 and 16 local people – a team who have become extended family. Their dedication to service, food quality, and immaculate rooms has driven our reputation to new heights.
“The financial impact is significant. When we began, the old Bridge House B&B turned over about £60,000 a year. Today, we’ve grown eightfold, surpassing half a million in one recent year – with more than £150,000 annually flowing directly into the pockets of local staff and, in turn, into local businesses.
“These aren’t figures for bragging; they are a clear indicator of the vital part this business plays in Brandon’s economy.
“The riverside has always been the soul of our site – and the community has embraced it wholeheartedly. Walkers, cyclists, paddle boarders, wild swimmers, and families all use our gardens and river access as a gateway to the natural beauty of the Little Ouse.
“Our Riverside Café has become a vibrant hub over the past two summers, and with chef Danny Coates – who juggles our now-famous “heroic” hotel breakfasts with his acclaimed Fuego pop-ups – Sundays have become a social ritual. Locals arrive for relaxed walk-up breakfasts, often with visiting friends and family, and frequently linger long after the last plate is cleared.
“Because community matters more than commerce, we’re perfectly happy for families to bring their own picnics to enjoy by the river in fair weather. Of course, we hope people might enjoy a fresh coffee or a drink from the bar – but it’s never a requirement. What matters is that people feel welcome on the land we are privileged to care for.
“Looking ahead, once our marquee planning is approved, we hope to create a brand-new hardstanding area beneath it – whichever riverside site becomes preferred. Not only will this give the marquee a perfectly level base, but during the months when the marquee isn’t in use, the space could become a Padel court: a brand-new facility for the town to enjoy.
“We have always believed The Bridge Hotel should be more than a business. It should be a hub, a gathering place, and a warm welcome to the town itself.
“And while a small minority may persist in trying to disrupt the progress of a legitimate, hard-working, and deeply rooted local enterprise, their voices don’t represent the community we serve – or the future we’re building.
“We will continue to grow. We will continue to invest. And we will continue to make Brandon proud.
“After all, that has always been the heart of this family’s mission – from Don and Chris’s garden weddings at Riverside Lodge, to our staff today, to every visitor who crosses the bridge that gives the hotel its name.”
Brandon Town Council opposed the planning application, stating the following reasons:
Cllr Wayne Bland was one of the most vocal to oppose the plans, as both a councillor and nearby resident, giving the following reasons among 6 pages of comments:
Other comments from residents included:
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