The millionaire owner of Britain's 'biggest man cave' has accused neighbours of bombarding him with prank calls in the middle of the night, after taxpayers were forced to foot the £220,000 demolition bill. Graham Wildin, 73, spent more than a decade fighting to preserve his illegal 10,000 sq ft leisure complex, which he built behind his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, in 2014.
The 'man cave' initially featured a bowling alley, casino, and cinema, and was constructed without planning permission. Over time, it expanded to include squash courts and a soft play area. Forest of Dean District Council began demolishing the complex in June last year, with drone images showing it now resembles a 'concrete car park'.
Local residents expressed delight at the demolition, but fresh planning documents have revealed ongoing resentment. In an application to approve a noise management plan for an Airbnb operated by Mr Wildin on the site, his representatives refused to provide a personal phone number for neighbours to report noise breaches. Instead, they cited previous issues with prank calls received at unreasonable hours, believed to originate from some neighbours, which police declined to pursue.
The noise management plan, approved last month, includes a noise monitoring system that alerts owners if thresholds are exceeded. Restrictions on guests include a ban on using the outdoor hot tub between 11pm and 7am, and a prohibition on excessive noise during those hours.
Neighbours reported that things have improved since the demolition. One said: 'It has all gone very quiet. He has his moments but keeps himself to himself – there's no noise or trouble from the holiday home.' Another added: 'It was about time and I think everyone down the bottom are very happy it has gone.' A third commented: 'I don't know anything about any prank calls to him, but that probably shows just how much he upset people here. He thought he could keep throwing money at it and get away with it. But there's nothing left now – so what did he really achieve?'
Mr Wildin did not respond to requests for comment on the prank calls. Forest of Dean District Council confirmed it would pursue costs from Mr Wildin for the demolition. The legal battle began in November 2013 when Mr Wildin started construction without planning permission. Despite warnings, an injunction was obtained in November 2018, requiring demolition by April 25, 2020. In June 2022, Mr Wildin was found in contempt of court and sentenced to six weeks imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, on condition the building be decommissioned. He failed to comply and was imprisoned in August 2022. Appeals in March 2023 were dismissed.
