Imagine pouring your heart, soul, and a hefty £55,000 into creating a unique space that turns heads—and then being told you might have to tear it all down.
That’s exactly what happened to Stephen Cuddy, a hotelier from Warwickshire, who built a one-of-a-kind canal and a giant cupcake-shaped wedding venue right in his garden at Grimscote Manor Hotel.
Unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned because local planning laws weren’t followed.
Stephen’s Ambitious Creations That Captivated Many
Stephen’s passion for creating “amazing spaces” saw him construct a mini-canal system complete with a working lock and a vintage narrowboat, which he ingeniously converted into a swimming pool.
On top of that, he crafted a whimsical cupcake-shaped wedding venue designed to be a standout attraction for his hotel guests.
These projects didn’t just impress locals—they caught the eye of TV personality George Clarke, who called them some of the best spaces featured on his Channel 4 show.
The canal, lock, and cupcake venue all sparked interest and even boosted the hotel’s revenue as visitors came by just to see and snap photos with these extraordinary features.
Planning Permission Problems Loom Large
Despite the praise and popularity, Stephen hit a major roadblock: he hadn’t gotten council approval before building either the canal or the cupcake venue.
Now, the local authority says both structures may have to be demolished unless he secures retrospective planning permission—a costly and complicated process.
Stephen, 59, feels stuck and overwhelmed. “It’s really stressing me out,” he shared.
“I thought I had the rights to build these through permitted development, but apparently not.
Fighting this could cost me up to £100,000, and I just don’t have that kind of money.”
More Issues with the Wedding Marquee
To add to his worries, the council also has concerns about a marquee on the hotel grounds, which Stephen has had for over a decade.
Although he previously obtained permission to erect it, the council now argues that because he took it down temporarily during the pandemic, its “lawful use” has lapsed.
Stephen explained, “The legal battle over the marquee back in 2009 cost me £50,000.
I fear the council might use the same reasoning to force me to remove it again.”
The council insists all three structures—the canal, cupcake venue, and marquee—should be handled together in a planning application, but Stephen feels they should be dealt with separately.
Stephen’s Frustration and Business Concerns
Beyond the legal headache, Stephen worries about the future of his business.
These unique features attracted more guests and helped his hotel stand out.
“People love them,” he said. “We’ve had no complaints, only praise.
It would be heartbreaking to have to tear them down.”
He also expressed disappointment over the council’s approach: “They need to learn how to treat people with tact and humility instead of threats. This has really broken me.”
What the Council Says and the Way Forward
North Warwickshire District Council has confirmed they are working with Stephen to find a solution and that no immediate enforcement action will be taken.
A council spokesperson said, “We have outlined several options to Mr. Cuddy and hope he will respond so we can move forward together.”
The council’s official letter described the cupcake structure as a turreted building nearing completion on top of an existing stable block, and the canal as an engineering operation built without permission.
They advised Stephen to submit a full retrospective planning application if he wants to keep the structures, or agree on a timeline for their removal.
Stephen’s Unique Vision Faces a Crucial Moment
Stephen’s story is a reminder of how passion and creativity sometimes clash with regulations.
His dream to create a magical, memorable space for guests was widely admired, but the cost of navigating planning laws could prove too high.
As he faces a tough choice between costly legal battles or dismantling his beloved projects, many are rooting for Stephen to find a way forward.
After all, how often do you see a wedding venue shaped like a giant cupcake alongside a real canal swimming pool in a hotel garden?