In a further blow for Sandown, Browns Golf and Blue Tiki Cafe Sandown have notified the Isle of Wight Council that they won’t be opening this season and will be handing over the keys to their business in April.
The announcement comes just days after it was revealed that the annual Hullabaloo event in Sandown has been cancelled.
In a triple whammy for the seaside town, it has also been announced that Sandown Town Council is set to raise its precept by 50%.
Browns’ leaseholders Geoff and Kate Scandrett have cited the current economic climate and rising energy costs as the main reasons behind their decision to close.
The couple were responsible for attracting big summer crowds to Browns with free concerts by the band Lucid in 2021 and 2022.
The 2023 Sandown Sprint, over the weekend of 25th and 26th March, will still be going ahead with hospitality on the Brown’s site.
Geoff and Kate have released the following statement :
“We’d like to inform all our friends and customers that with great sadness, we will not be opening the golf courses and cafe for a further season.
Article continues below this advertisement “Our 18-month lease with the Isle of Wight Council expired in October of last year, and we’re sorry to say we’ve been unable to agree a new one which gives us confidence we’d be able to invest all that is needed in Browns and return a reasonable business profit over the term on offer.
“The current economic climate and difficult financial factors, including rising energy costs, were also part of our decision., and we’ve given notice to the council that we will be leaving Browns in April.
We’re pleased to say that the 2023 Sandown Sprint on the weekend of 25th and 26th March will be going ahead, with hospitality provided on site.
“We’re gutted about the decision we’ve had to make and it’s hard to admit defeat, even in the face of difficult circumstances. We’ve felt privileged to be the custodians of Browns for the last 2 years, and we’re proud to have been involved when the golf course celebrated its 90th anniversary in March 2022.
“May we thank all our customers who welcomed us and have been so supportive. We’ve made many friends, and hope a new business will be able to pick up the baton to ensure Browns remains a big part of Sandown’s story, as it has been for so long.”
UPDATE @ 13:00 – Responding to the news, a spokesperson for the Isle of Wight Council has said:
“The lessee informed IWC of their decision to terminate the lease in January. IWC had offered a five year lease to allow the lessee to invest in the site and there were no changes to the full repairing lease proposed by IWC, nor were the council proposing to increase the rent.
“IWC is now looking at options to re-advertise or manage the golf course in house. We are meeting with stakeholders in early March to develop a masterplan for the whole area which will include looking at the long term future of the golf course”.
Wonder how many houses ect will go there…
Oh dear poor Sandown …
This site is historic. The design of the golf course itself and the subsequent role in D-Day and the liberation of Europe.
Moreover, in pitch’n’putt, it offers an activity not found elsewhere on the island.
The way is being paved for more houses, probably even luxury holiday homes facing the sea and empty for most of the year. I wonder which individuals will benefit from that whereas the island as a whole loses out.
It beggars belief at the mentality of the numpties that run the council. Surely it is obvious that it is better to have some money coming into the public’s coffers than nothing at all? Although I personally have never used the facilities, common sense dictates that it is a fairly popular tourist attraction that brings much needed investment to our economy, especially in these tough financial times. When these officials get elected do they have to go through some sort of ritual where they have the “sensible” area of their brains removed?
Still cannot understand why people would take on such a short lease.
I guess that someone made the mistake of trusting the council to do the right thing for the town. Big mistake; huge!
More to follow after the rip off 50% council tax rinsing rise. What do they expect people to bend over and keep giving for them to waste on dead end projects
How the hell can the people afford 50 % rise no wonder the place and the whole island is going to the the dogs it’s real hard times and only set to get worse
This council tries to raise more money but everytime it ends up costing more, now this site will cost thousands to maintain and keep secure from the Sandown few teenagers that like destroying anything that looks abandoned. Sandown Council needs to get strong and hand stuff back to Isle of Wight council. I’m old and can remember having Medina and South Wight council and IOW council and numerous services and easy access, now paying more for less,no services and unable to access council, don’t answer phone or you get wrong dept, can’t even go to tip if no Internet.Failing schools,lack of housing and awful roads, lot’s of people employed spouting hot air. Money wasted on County Hall and electric car’s while the community go cold and hungry !
IWC, nor were the council proposing to increase the rent.
clearly to high to begin with and they wouldn’t reduce it – council shot theirselves in the foot there.
Fuel costs for moving and fertilizers going sky high .Lots of sports club struggling nationally.
As soon as I hear the word stakeholders, I understand the reason for the closure. Stakeholders expect dividends for the money they invest, so obviously, in these difficult times, they want more. Not sure about a master plan though – just any plan to encourage visitors to the IOW would be good. Everything we think is ‘unique’ can be found on the mainland (except red squirrels) and you don’t need an expensive ferry ticket to get to it!
Scarce toilets scare people off too!
Perhaps the new ‘Hotel referb’ next door has played a part.
I wonder who is going in there
?
I don’t thing next door is being refurbished, just tidied up. There is no suggestion it’s going to be opened or occupied. I think they are just complying with an order make it safe and visually pleasant..
This town
Is coming like a ghost town.
I’m devastated!!! I’ve been coming to the island all 61 years of my life, always went to Browns be it for golf, ice cream/coffee & the boating lake when i was a kid. The amount of crime on the island and closure of shops also knocks me back! Love you Isle Of Wight! Whats it all coming to? Really sad.
It’s all the councils fault! You can’t expect to give someone a full repair lease and only five years. To do that the building would need to be renovated up to looking new standards before any new tenants are handed the building. The building has over 30 roof leaks, rotting doors. Missing external panelling. Damaged guttering, missing soffit boards to mention a few. If the occupants had a 20+ year lease they would be able to invest and have time to pay investors back and try to make the business profitable. Unfortunately the council new this so they have made it look like they have tried but the occupants have failed. After all the complaints by people in Sandown not to shut it they wouldn’t look bad.In fact they knew what they were doing!
Well that cafe would surely be in way of the new houses coming.greedy a oles
Captiva are likely already getting plans for the first phase of development,
Not what, but who you know.
Watch and see.