Parents given permission to drink alcohol whereas watching sports activities video games at £25,000-a-year personal ladies’ college – regardless of protests from locals

Parents of girls at a £25,000-a-year private school will be allowed to get drunk while watching their daughters’ sports games – despite protests from ‘disgusted’ locals who fear the venue will morph into a nightclub.

Tormead School in Guildford, Surrey – which counts Love Island star Olivia Attwood and comedian Sandi Toksvig among its alumni – was recently granted an alcohol licence for its newly refurbished sports facility Urnfield Pavilion.

The private school said the move was part of them ‘sweating their assets’ after VAT increases for private schools were brought in by the Labour Government.

But ‘anxious’ locals who already put up with noise and anti-social behaviour in the area are worried more trouble will come from drunk parents.

The licensing application initially proposed a bar open seven days a week between 7am and 10pm, but it was changed to allow alcohol to be sold between midday and 8pm from Monday to Thursday, and until 10pm on Fridays and Sundays.

The approval of the application by Guildford Borough Council’s (GBC) licensing committee last month has been dubbed as ‘bizarre’ and ‘disgusting’ by one resident who has lived next to the sports field for more than three decades.

He said: ‘We are disgusted by the whole development. It started off as a small sports facility, then Tormead got involved and developed it – but for kids.

‘Then there were floodlights and I thought, “They are going to commercialise this”.

‘It’s obvious they are trying to develop it as a commercial enterprise.

‘The idea you would give a liquor licence to a school like this is completely bizarre and actually quite disgusting.

‘Beyond prematurely exposing kids to alcohol, it also exposes them to commercialisation.

‘They are making the sports ground a business. It’s not a pub or a nightclub.

‘If you’re going to go to the trouble of putting a bar in, you’ll want to recoup your investment. We are very anxious about what that looks like.

‘My daughter’s school haven’t developed their sports field as a commercial enterprise.’

The man’s wife claimed locals were not consulted on the application, with a notice on the sports facilities gate serving as their only reference despite a ‘wave of objections’.

Urnfield Pavilion is listed as one of the ‘facilities for hire at Urnfield Sports Ground’ on the school’s website.

Promotional pictures of the pavilion’s interior show a bar area with neatly arranged champagne flutes and three fridges stocked with bubbles.

The description reads: ‘The Urnfield Pavilion has recently undergone refurbishment and now offers a fantastic space for fitness classes, community activities, meetings and other group events – all with breath-taking views overlooking the Surrey Downs.

‘The pavilion also serves as a convenient venue for those using the other Urnfield facilities to regroup and access toilet and changing facilities. Please note, access to the pavilion for this purpose will be separated from other activities in the building.’

Even some parents with children who attend Tormead have expressed concerns.

One mother, who lives next to the sports facility, said she worries about the message it sends to kids playing on the field.

‘For me, it’s very controversial,’ she said. ‘Seeing parents drinking alcohol at these events is not great.

‘Alcohol and education do not go together. The school just want to raise money and rent out the pavilion.

‘It’s not good for the community. It’s a quiet road; it’s inappropriate. Alcohol isn’t healthy. It’s setting double standards.

‘I know some parents are excited to have a picnic and drink at the sports events, but it’s not good for the children. It sets a bad example.’

Another local resident added: ‘What sort of message does this send to children? It’s not very impressive at all… It’s a school. It just seems really inappropriate.

‘They are definitely going to try and take it further. This is just a start.

‘As a school, it’s really quite shocking. They have been given an inch and have taken a mile.’

The woman, who has lived in the area for 18 years, compared the floodlights to ‘Blackpool illuminations’.

She added: ‘It’s not that we don’t want children playing sports, but why do we need to sell alcohol? Are the kids all going to go for a beer after playing football?

‘Do the parents need to be on the side-lines with a vodka and tonic?

‘The whole thing is awful. The council rejected the initial application, then the school got a lawyer from London to overturn the appeal.

‘What sort of lesson are we teaching children here? That if you shout loud enough you can get what you want?

‘I wish the council would grow a backbone. What’s next? A hotel, or a nightclub?’

A neighbour, who has lived next to the sports field for over 25 years, fears the lack of public transport in the area would encourage drink-driving partygoers.

‘There’s no public transport,’ the man said. ‘If people come and have a drink, how are they going to get home?

‘I’m not sure the school should be encouraging parents to come to sports day and have a drink, then drive their kids home.

‘People are worried. It’s like having a pub next door to them.

‘This just doesn’t feel like the right place for it. It’s an area of natural beauty; it has the same conditions as a national park.

‘There will be a lot of noise as well. When the windows are open, you can hear the noise in all the houses.

‘Someone heard [the school] went massively over budget on the sports facilities, so they need to sweat their assets to get money back.

‘I don’t think Tormead are in great shape.

‘The key issues are public nuisance, noise late at night, public safety, crime and disorder.

‘Do you want children playing sports whilst the adults are having a few glasses of wine and a few beers?

‘How are you going to make sure the kids don’t get behind the bar themselves?

‘The school say one thing, then do another. The concern is that they are going to rent it out for parties. That’s what happened when we had the trouble before.’

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), GBC members acknowledged the concerns raised at the licensing meeting but said they had to legally rely on evidence of harm.

They said there was no clear evidence the licence would lead to crime, disorder or harm to children.

However, they also made clear the original application went too far, rejecting the idea of near all-day, seven-day drinking, the LDRS said.

Instead, they struck what they called a ‘fair and proportionate balance’, allowing alcohol sales but with tighter hours and rules.

A GBC spokesperson said: ‘Guildford Borough Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee considered an application relating to Tormead School in accordance with the Licensing Act 2003.

‘This was a new application to consider the sale of alcohol at the pavilion, with full details available on the Council’s Licensing Sub-Committee Pages on the Council’s website.

‘The Sub-Committee heard from the applicant, responsible authorities and local residents before reaching its decision.

‘Following careful consideration of all the evidence, members granted the licence with a number of conditions and reduced hours.

‘As with all licensed premises, we will monitor compliance with the licensing requirements and will take appropriate enforcement action in the event of any breaches. This is standard practice for all licences issued by the Council. 

‘In addition, under the Licensing Act 2003, residents have the right to call for the licence to be reviewed in the event of any evidenced concerns.’

Tormead charges pupils in years seven to 13 £8,742 per term, according to information on its website.

A school spokesperson said: ‘The school’s intention in applying for this licence is to support the responsible and sustainable use of our facilities, ensuring they remain well-maintained and continue to benefit the wider community.

‘We are mindful of the concerns raised by some local residents and want to reassure our neighbours that the pavilion’s primary purpose remains a school sports facility, and that any use of the licence will be carefully managed, with appropriate safeguards in place to maintain the character of the area and minimise any potential disturbance.

‘The licence forms part of our broader approach to managing and maintaining the school’s facilities responsibly, ensuring they continue to be used effectively both now and in the future, including where appropriate by community groups.

‘We remain committed to being a considerate neighbour and are always open to constructive dialogue with the local residents.’