Residents of Clanfield in Oxfordshire are deeply unhappy about parking problems related to The Double Red Duke boutique hotel and restaurant, and neighbouring Mason’s Arms.
The establishment is extremely well regarded and is reportedly frequented by Premier League footballers as well as influencers and local celebrities such as Jeremy Clarkson and Kate Moss.
But now locals have put up cones and bollards outside their homes to stop customers parking there.
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Pub owners Country Creatures declined to comment. Oxfordshire County Council says it has sent enforcement officers after complaints by Clanfield Parish Council.
Ann Roberts, 67, resident of 13 years said: “It’s diabolical. They park all over and some of them block our driveways.
”Every weekend my neighbours are putting bollards out so they don’t park outside the houses.”
A no parking sign in Clanfield amid residents fury about parking issues (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
A resident since 1969, aged 87, said: “One thing that annoys me is them turning in my driveway. If you say anything you just get a mouthful of abuse.
“Some time ago now a young couple came out of the Double Red Duke and they’d parked on the pavement and I said ‘I think it’s a bit inconsiderate for people on wheelchairs or the children because they’ve got to go on the road’ and he just said ‘oh for goodness sake, get a life’.”
A local called Victoria, 36, works in management in a tech company and moved to the village in July last year.
She said: “The other day I couldn’t get out of my drive. You want local businesses to be successful as well but the council needs to be more aware.
A no parking sign in Clanfield amid residents fury about parking issues (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
“People park on the war memorial. Weekends it just gets really dangerous with visitors coming in.”
She added: “The bigger issue is if the cars block emergency vehicle access like fire engines.”
Chris Bridgewater, another local, told the BBC: “Nobody can get through. We bought a bungalow and loved the village – we thought it would be our forever home.
Traffic cones in Clanfield amid residents fury about parking issues (Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)
“But we are now thinking of moving again – it’s just got ridiculous.”
One resident of ten years, 50, said that it’s changed the atmosphere in the village
They said: “I’ve heard a few people that have said it will affect the value of the properties.”
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Giles Horton, chair of the Clanfield Parish Council, said those running the pubs were “trying to be as cooperative as they can be”.
He said: “They do try and ask their punters to park in the right sort of places, but people are people – they’ll park wherever they can.”
The Mason’s Arms has been described by Times food critic Giles Coren as “gorgeous” with “cooking out of the top drawer”.
The pub was bought by Country Creatures, which also owns the exclusive hotel The Double Red Duke opposite the pub, for £1.4million in September 2023.
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