Retail giant John Lewis has put forward plans for between 10 to 20 events and functions for non-employees per year. Since 1963, the 25-bedroom hotel at the castle has been operated by John Lewis Partnership as a subsidised benefit for employees, their families and friends. The company, which leases Brownsea Castle from the Harbour island’s owner the National Trust, has submitted a planning application to Dorset Council.
Annually, the castle hosts around 10 private events and functions for John Lewis employees on a subsided rates basis and employs about 50 people. Each event is typically held across one day and night with a maximum capacity of 75 guests, John Lewis said. But by opening up the castle for general public use, John Lewis is hoping to boost “generating commercial revenue to offset its subsidy costs to allow it to continue operating Brownsea Castle as a private hotel for its employees”.
Documents submitted to Dorset Council as part of its planning application say the proposed events and functions would include overnight stays that are spread across the year during the quieter months. This does not include the school holiday peak periods, which John Lewis has said will be avoided “to ensure those periods remain exclusively for JLP Partners”. Brownsea Castle’s hotel season runs from the end of January up to the last week before Christmas each year.
John Lewis' spokeswoman said: "Brownsea Castle is a beautiful, picturesque setting, available for our partner.