Princes William and Harry were among those who played at Hurtwood Park Polo Club, which was the pride of rock star Kenney Jones.
But now the former Small Faces, Faces and The Who drummer, 74, has put it on the market for £5million – seven years after ambitious planning proposals for the site were rejected.
Hurtwood Park is set in 400 acres of Surrey countryside and includes a beamed clubhouse barn, four polo fields and stables. Hurtwood Park has operated as a polo property for more than 25 years. It first came about after the musician moved to Ewhurst in the 1980s.
Hurtwood Park went bankrupt in 2013, but Jones promised at the time that he “would not allow his club to get out of his control”.
Princes William and Harry were among those who played at Hurtwood Park Polo Club, which was the pride of rock star Kenney Jones
Plans for a ‘Centre for National Polo and Equestrian Expertise’, a 74-room hotel and 14 apartments on the polo club’s grounds, were rejected by Waverley Borough Council two years later.
It had met serious opposition from Ewhurst residents when 125 posters explaining the negative aspects of the proposals were hung across the village. A spokesman for the applicant said at the time that if the plans didn’t go through, the property would have to be sold as the polo club was no longer viable.
“He put King Charles there and Prince William and Prince Harry,” says a source. “Princess Diana would go there when Charles was playing, and Prince Albert of Monaco would also be there. It’s a tough time for sponsors now because the royals don’t play much polo so the sport is struggling.”
Real estate agent Clarke Gammon’s online ad describes Hurtwood Park Polo Club as having “immense potential” and “long-term planning opportunities.”
While the land is “currently approved for polo/equestrian and commercial entertainment”, it also notes that “the barn would make a fine home”.
The barn, currently used for parties, weddings and other social events, has a large common area with vaulted ceilings, a bar, patio and commercial kitchen.
Now the former Small Faces, Faces and The Who drummer, 74, has put it on the market for £5million – seven years after ambitious planning proposals for the site were rejected
He was rumored to have been paid £500,000 to go into the jungle with Matt Hancock and Mike Tindall – a record for an I’m A Celeb contestant – Boy George has made a dramatic U-turn in the sale of his £17million home .
The Karma Chameleon singer, 61, put his six-bedroom Gothic mansion overlooking Hampstead Heath, north London, on the market in September. I can reveal that he has now taken it off the sale and found a tenant instead. Similar sized properties in the area rent for up to £15,000 per week.
“George just couldn’t bear to part with it permanently, so renting it out made perfect sense,” a friend tells me. A spokesman for his real estate agent Aston Chase declined to comment.
Met King Chas at the pub
What do you say when you literally bump into the monarch? This is what happened to a startled bar worker in Mayfair before Christmas.
And I hear Charles and Camilla were very amused by his reaction. “The king and queen were at a party at the pub and the man had to carry a large tray of appetizers up from the kitchen,” one of his friends tells me. “He opened the room door with his back so he could keep both hands on the heavy tray. Then he bumped into someone. He turned and saw that it was the king. Shocked, he said, ‘I’m sorry, king.’
“Later he found out from his boss that the king thought it was very funny and that this was the first time he was being called ‘king’. In future he should call him ‘Your Majesty’.”
JK Rowling is the target of much online abuse because of her brave stance on women’s rights. But the Harry Potter author’s vast wealth gives her the freedom to speak out.
And this wealth continues to grow. Accounts released on New Year’s Eve for her digital publisher Pottermore show she was paid a dividend of £18million last year.
In the 12 months to March, Pottermore had a pre-tax profit of £5.7m on sales of £37.8m. Obviously she still has the magic touch.
Love Actually star Bill Nighy is set to receive his first Oscar nomination for his role in 1950s drama Living, but his doctor has told him he will be dead in 13 years.
When the film was promoted in the US, a National Public Radio interviewer speculated with Nighy that the 73-year-old “could stay with us for another 25 years.”
Nighy replied: “My doctor currently says 86. The numbers are 86 . . . I was a bit surprised. Apparently they are now.”
Queen guitarist Brian May wasted no time in using the new title bestowed on him by King Charles in the New Year Honors list. Thanking fans for the messages he received following the news that he was made a Knight Bachelor for services to music and charity, the 75-year-old posted a video message online. He says: “I’m thrilled and touched by the love and support that emanates from you. I will do my best to be worthy. Thank you and much love from Sir Bri.’
Clarkson girl dons skimpy top gear
Petrolhead Jeremy Clarkson has been slammed by his daughter Emily for his controversial comments about the Duchess of Sussex.
Now Emily is trying to spread a healthier message online.
The body positivity blogger and author, 28, shared photos of her blossoming baby bump while wearing a cropped lilac mesh top.
“I’m entering my Winnie the Pooh era,” she jokes of AA Milne’s famous children’s book and later a cuddly Disney cartoon character.
Emily, who is expecting her first child with Alex Andrew, 30, a Dublin-born publicist she met at Glastonbury Festival, said of her father’s remarks about Meghan: “I want to make it very clear that I’m against anything what my father wrote. . . and I continue to stand in support of those targeted with online hate.
The body positivity blogger and author, 28, shared photos of her blossoming baby bump while wearing a cropped lilac mesh top