Ambitious plans have been revealed to create a new wedding destination and campsite at a historic country estate in order to keep up with ‘high demand’.

Proposals are in to erect a marquee to host up to 10 events a year at the Grade II-listed Beachborough Park in Newington, near Folkestone.

If approved by Folkestone & Hythe District Council (FHDC), the site will host up to 100 guests per ceremony.

The marquee will be installed on a temporary basis on a two-acre walled site at the venue and removed at the end of each wedding.

Beachborough Park is a country estate of historical interest which currently offers five bed-and-breakfast units and one Airbnb holiday let.

But owner Rob Wallis says he is now looking to “diversify” to keep up with the “high demand”.

“Our occupancy level across the year is in the region around 85-88%,” he explained.

“The accommodation options are really popular, and we've got sufficient demand to be able to offer alternatives.

“The camping and weddings will be on a seasonal basis so it won't be permanent.

“We're very mindful of the historic nature of the estate.

“My wife and I actually got married here ourselves, so we know it's a really lovely place to get married.”

The seasonal camping site and wedding marquee would both be located within the walled garden and therefore would not operate at the same time to avoid a conflict between the wedding guests and seasonal campers.

Both the camping and weddings would take place between April and September.

Wedding guests would also have the option of camping on the site or staying in one of the bed and breakfast or holiday let units within the estate.

Beachborough Park has been in the Wallis family since the 1980s and Rob Wallis took over from his father in 2019.

The 55-year-old said that he is now “slowly taking on the future direction of the estate”.

He added: “The proposed site is surrounded by a wall and we have had people camping in it before as part of a permitted development.

“We got some really good feedback around it being safe and secure, particularly for children.

“And we are a community here, so it's not about over-commercialising it. It's about doing it sensitively within the confines of the property.”

The temporary marquee would measure 12m x 18m and approximately 4.5/5m in height. It would be a white/natural cream colour.

As well as this, the proposals seek to re-use an existing modern barn located within the walled garden to provide an open plan kitchen area, toilet and shower facilities for the seasonal camping and wedding guests.

Access and parking are proposed to the east of the walled garden via an existing access.

Beachborough Park dates from 1813 and has 30 acres of land in total.

It was a military hospital in the First World War and was also previously a school.

A decision on the application is set to be made by FHDC in September and Mr Wallis hopes to have the campsite and wedding venue up and running next year.