Residents in the East Sussex village of Bodiam, best-known for its 14th-century moated castle, have slammed plans for a new wine shop that they say could wreak havoc on their day-to-day lives. The owner of New House Farm, to the west of the village, has applied for permission to turn one of their barns into a shop selling homemade wine, an expansion of the existing site, which also includes several short-term lets to supplement the estate’s income. The proposals lay out plans to use two onsite buildings for storage, with the third set to become a small shop selling wine produced on the farm, as well as three mobile homes, to be used by agricultural workers and as additional tourist lets.
Locals have expressed strong opposition to the developments, however, suggesting that the shop would signal another unnecessary tourist destination, increasing the “disruption” caused to residents. “I am appalled and alarmed at this proposal,” one dissenter said. “If this were to go through, it would be devastating. We did not choose to live directly opposite a tourist destination.”
“Absolutely no thought or consideration has been given to those living within yards of the planned development,” they added.
Another said the holiday cottages already in use on the estate were causing problems, complaining of visitors “knocking on our door, walking past our houses and looking through the windows”.
“In the last couple of weeks, we had a lady who was staying at the holiday cottages knocking on our door in the evening to ask for batteries,” they added.
“Noises here travel a long way,” a third objector said. “Having braying, shrieking wine drinkers just 30 yards away would be unpleasant and unfair on residents.”
“The coming and going of visitors using the shop and cafe will ruin this quiet location,” a fourth added.
“Any wine production and bottling facilities are bound to create noise, and most likely, smells.”
Alongside its famous castle, Bodiam is popular with adventure buffs for its activity-packed stretch of the River Rother, which offers paddleboarding and boat rides.
Despite evident local frustration with tourists, it is also a popular spot for wild camping or weekend getaways in hand-built shephard’s huts at The Original Hut Company.
Wine produced on the New House Farm estate won’t be without its competitors either, with the Oastbrook Estate Vineyard and Oxney Organic Estate both nearby, offering tours, tastings and private events.
