Decision to be made on booze licence for historic mansion
Residents voice objections to revamped venue due to noise fears
COUNCILLORS are set to decide whether an historic mansion that is undergoing a multimillion pound restoration is granted an alcohol licence.
Jason and Soraya Parker, who also own and run Southsea restaurant and hotel Becketts, took over Coldeast Mansion in Coldeast Drive, Sarisbury Green this summer.
The mansion was bought by Fern Property Ltd, a local privately owned company, from a guide price of £3.5m after it had run into financial trouble under the previous owners and went into administration.
The couple have already spent £2m doing up the property – including installing a £200,000 kitchen – and they plan to turn the venue into a stylish restaurant, hotel and wedding venue.
They plan to open on October 6, however an application for an alcohol licence has attracted 20 objections from local residents, who are concerned about the noise.
Jason said: ‘As would be expected with a plan of this scale, there are some people who are nervous of change, but this is a wonderful old building that has been sat empty.
‘I don’t think anybody would expect a building like this to be empty forever.
‘The plan is for a bar, restaurant and hotel and there are some neighbours who are worried about noise.’
Jason said he has brought in specialists to measure the impact of the proposed noise, and that he was confident that it would not adversely affect any of the neighbours.
He also said he was keen to be part of the community – and that the business had already created 40 jobs – and to see the former mansion house, which has its origins in the early 19th century, brought back to life.
Jason and his wife have run Becketts in Southsea, taking over the restaurant five years ago, and then buying the run-down building next door, before converting that into rooms and creating a stylish hotel.
He said: ‘We have run Becketts for five years without a single noise complaint, we are geared up for families and that is the kind of friendly environment we want to create. Of course we will be holding weddings in such a wonderful venue, but we will be considerate and we have taken advice from a specialist.’