Christmas has come early for residents who won their fight against a venue's plan to keep a marquee up for eight months a year to host outdoor events.

Bosses at The Clarendon Royal Hotel in Gravesend put in a planning application for retrospective permission to erect the structure between March 1 and October 31 temporarily for three years.

They wanted to do this to "support an existing business and promote an evening economy taking full advantage of its heritage and riverside setting".

The planning statement added: "Moreover, the temporary nature is to allow the business to recover from the effects of the pandemic which badly affected the bar and restaurant sector in particular."

The marquee was originally put up during the pandemic under the government's scheme to help the hospitality trade when indoor activities were banned.

It sits across the road from the Grade II-listed building in its garden area and has been used throughout the summer months to host large events and music festivals.

But the people who live near the river in Royal Pier Road and Royal Pier Mews claim it has been at their expense and have reported consistent noise and anti-social behaviour issues.

Dad Daniel Curran said: "We have a right to a peaceful and un-blighted neighbourhood but it is not peaceful and is blighted by this big blob.

"One of our neighbours moved because of this and the change in the neighbourhood. It is not nice. We love it here apart from all this, it is a real shame."

The residents said they understood the business does need to run events to stay afloat after the impact of Covid but had concerns over the noise and anti-social behaviour that followed.

Anna Vitalis, 43, said she had found clothes left in her front garden and empty bottles stuck on top of her fence and Daniel, 54, said he once had a woman wee on his front step.

The planning application received more than 30 objections with noise levels, overcrowding, size, impact on the historical area and impact on the view listed as reason to refuse the proposal.

Council officers refused the permit on Wednesday, December 7.

The report said: "Insufficient detail has been submitted to allow the full impacts of the temporary marquee to be accurately assessed."

It added a heritage statement was not supplied or an appropriate flood risk assessment meaning the flood risks could not be determined despite the site being in a high flood zone.

Planning officers said the size, location and time it would be up for would have a "detrimental impact on the character and appearance of the area" including the conservation zone, adjacent building and monument.

The decision report also said the marquee would have "significant adverse impacts on the amenity of surrounding occupiers" due to the noise and disturbance it would encourage.

Daniel, of Royal Pier Road, said: "We are all overjoyed. It is brilliant. It was what we were expecting but there was always a chance it may have been approved.

"At the moment, we are really happy about it. All the residents have said it is like an early Christmas present. We are all delighted.

"We are all obviously very pleased with the result but we are a little bit wary and are aware it might not be over. I do not know what will happen in spring."

He thinks the hotel bosses may try to apply to erect something similar next year to hold events but at the moment there has not been any official plans revealed.

Neighbour Barbara Donovan, 72, added: "That is just wonderful news. I look forward to seeing it come down and restore peace and light to our heritage riverside."

The marquee is still up but the council has advised the applicants it should be removed immediately, and no later than Friday, December 23.

Another application had been submitted to keep six huts up temporarily but this has also been refused as they were "not considered appropriate" as they were to support the marquee uses.

The Clarendon was approached for comment but did not respond.