Tower House all set for wine and roses

For decades it was home to the Lord Mayor’s parlour, accessible only to the privileged few for civic occasions.

But the champagne corks will soon be popping for visitors to Tower House in Canterbury following its £705,000 transformation into the city’s newest luxury venue.

With the civic office relocated to the council headquarters in Military Road, the grand Victorian house – bequeathed to the authority by the Williamson family in 1936 – is entering a new era.

It was unveiled this week after an extensive refurbishment, which includes a new York stone sun terrace and car park.

Inside, most of the original features have been retained, but it has been tastefully remodelled, redecorated and furnished, with a lift installed. The reception rooms have also been given new names, including the Rosiers Room, the Watmer Room and the Williamson Room.

Council spokesman Rob Davies said: “The scheme hasn’t cost the taxpayer a penny because it has been funded by the sale of properties owned by the council, but hopefully, going forward, it will bring in revenue for the authority.”

However, the project has not all been plain sailing as a premises licence application ran into opposition from neighbours.

It resulted in the reining back of some of the original proposals, including the dropping of plans for a marquee on the terrace and a reduction in the planned late opening hours.

At a heated licensing meeting in March, it was decided

‘Already there has been a lot of interest because it’s a lovely building in a fabulous setting’

that only one event with music would be allowed per week, and that music and dancing and the sale of alcohol must end at 11pm, with drinking on the terrace finishing at 10.30pm.

But city council community services manager Alison Small says the hatchet has now been buried after local people were invited to see the transformation of Tower House for themselves.

A new good-neighbour agreement has also been drafted with them to avoid any problems of disturbance.

Mrs Small said: “Although the Lord Mayor’s office has moved, 50% of the building’s use will still be for civic events, 30% will be for community use and just 20% commercial.

“It will be available for wedding, civil ceremonies, private dinner parties, social celebra- tions and corporate functions. Wedding ceremonies will start from £250, with bespoke wedding packages from £2,950.

“It really is a super venue for ceremonies for up to 40 people, but we can cater for up to 80 for other functions.

“Already there has been a lot of interest because it’s a lovely building in a fabulous setting overlooking the Westgate Gardens and we have three wedding bookings confirmed.”

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Alison Small: ‘a super venue’