William Eichler 22 April 2025

Council spends £220k demolishing ‘man cave’

Council spends £220k demolishing ‘man cave’ image
© Allison H. Smith / Shutterstock.com.

Forest of Dean District Council was forced to spend £220,000 demolishing an illegally built leisure complex belonging to a millionaire.

Dubbed ‘Britain's biggest man cave’, the building housed a bowling alley, casino, and cinema and was constructed without planning permission.

A council spokesperson said efforts to recover the £220,000 from the landowner were ‘actively underway’.

They added: ‘These rules are in place to ensure development is carried out legally, safely, and in a way that protects our communities and shared environment.

‘When individuals choose to ignore these rules, they not only act unlawfully but place an unfair burden on the wider public.’

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