‘Britain’s biggest man cave’ now resembles a car park after it’s finally torn down

A millionaire’s ten-year battle to save’Britain’s largest man cave‘destruction is finally over.

Graham Wildin, 70, has spent more than a decade fighting to preserve his 10,000-square-foot illegal entertainment complex and has He even served time in prison for it.

The dispute has continued since 2014, when he built the ‘man cave’ with a bowling alley, casino and cinema at the back of his house without planning permission.

After a lengthy legal battle, Forest of Dean District Council finally began tearing it down in June, and drone photos taken this week show the once eye-catching annex. It now looks like a “concrete parking lot.”

The complex stood behind his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire and at one time included luxurious squash courts, children’s play area and bowling alley.

A local resident said they were glad to see it gone.

They said: ‘It’s about time.

‘We have a full view from here. Absolutely, I’m happy to see it go.

‘I think all the people at the end (of the road) they are very happy.’

Wildin declined to comment on the demolition, but the complete removal ends a long battle to try to preserve it.

Forest of Dean District Council confirmed the demolition was now complete and they would claim the costs back from Mr Wildin.

A spokesperson said: “Demolition of the building constructed without planning permission on Meendhurst Road in Cinderford has now been completed, and the demolition and removal team has left the site.

‘It is important to note that the cost of this process should not be borne by the taxpayer, and we are now working to recover the full cost of the demolition from the land owner.

“Once again we would like to thank local residents for their patience and understanding during this process.”

After receiving approval to proceed with the demolition, the site was secured on May 31, 2024 to carry out the works.

This follows a lengthy legal process in which Wildin received multiple court orders to demolish the building and served prison time for contempt of court, the council said.

Wildin first took steps to build a leisure center in the rear garden of one of the two adjacent houses he then owned on Meendhurst Road in November 2013, prompting a member of the public to lodge a complaint with the Council. Forest of Dean District.

Shortly after construction began, Wildin was informed by several council officials that the proposed building was not a “permitted development” and required planning permission.

Following a series of warnings, the council obtained a court order against Wildin in November 2018 and was given until April 25, 2020 to demolish the leisure building.

In a legal process brought by Forest of Dean District Council in June 2022, Wildin was found guilty of contempt of court for failing to comply with the court order.

The judge sentenced him to six weeks in prison suspended for 12 months, with the condition that the building be permanently dismantled and taken out of service within 18 weeks.

Wildin later appealed the decision.

The appeal was dismissed and he was given until March 10, 2022 to comply with the Order to complete the required work, if he wanted to avoid prison. Once again, he failed to comply with the court order and was sentenced to six weeks in prison in August 2022.

In March 2023, Wildin appealed the prison sentence, but this was also dismissed. The last deadline for Wildin to comply with the court order expired in early January 2023.

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