Brownsea Castle set to hold overnight stays for first time

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 Poole Harbour island’s owner the National Trust, has submitted a planning application to Dorset Council.  

(Image: Julia Rosser, camera club member)

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 partners to enjoy.

"We’re exploring options for a small number of people outside our partnership to enjoy the benefits of the scenic location to celebrate their special occasions, such as weddings.” 

(Image: Don Williams, camera club member)

Brownsea Island (Image: National Trust Images - John Millar)

Back in the early 1960s, the National Trust bought Brownsea Castle through a John Lewis employee link with the Van Raalte family who lived there at the time.   

In return, John Lewis received a lease on the Grade II listed castlee, which, along with its grounds and outbuildings, have been renovated by the retail giant.   

John Lewis offers its employees the castle as a hotel at a subsidised rate to provide them with an opportunity “to enjoy a holiday that they may not be able to afford”.  

With just over 1.5 miles west to east and nearly one mile north to south, Brownsea Island has a vast history.  

It is thought there has been human activity on Brownsea since 1000BC. A 33ft logboat was recovered just off the island in 1964 and carbon-dated.  

In the late 9th century a hermit from Cerne Abbey is thought to have lived on the island. It belonged to the monks until Henry VIII seized it under the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s.  

He built the first Brownsea Castle and stationed a garrison there.  

Over time, the island has been bought and owned by several individuals and groups. In 1726 Brownsea was bought for £300 by William Benson, sometimes known as 'Mad' Benson. He rebuilt the castle as a residence, planted trees, and preserved hundreds of rare plants on the island.  

While nobody lives on Brownsea Island now, it welcomes well over 100,000 people every year.