Tonbridge Castle Café Feasibility Study

Client: Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council

Tonbridge Castle is an important heritage, tourism and community resource in Tonbridge, Kent. Tonbridge Castle was built by Richard Fitz Gilbert after the Norman Conquest to control a strategically important crossing point on the River Medway. The gatehouse with parts of the walls and moat remain intact, and adjacent to the castle is a mansion house built in 1793. The castle is a Scheduled Monument, and the site is Grade I listed. The castle is managed by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council.

Planning Solutions Consulting was commissioned to work with Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council to carry out a feasibility study to assess the opportunity to introduce a café within the mansion house. The café feasibility study included an assessment of the castle’s operations to provide context, alongside assessments of the economic and market contexts. This included the residential population living within the 30-minute drivetime catchment of Tonbridge Castle, the competitive landscape and trends in the visitor attraction and wider catering sectors. Five separate case examples were analysed to identify critical success factors, key challenges, operational factors, spend and cost centres. A five-year trading profile with sensitivity analysis was prepared, and key risks were identified and mitigation strategies set out. To find out more about Tonbridge Castle, please click here.  We have worked on a range of projects at castles.

How can we help?
If you need a feasibility study or masterplan to be prepared for a castle or other visitor site please don’t hesitate to call Richard Linington on 07866 742628 or email richard@pslplan.co.uk.