A hotelier who refused to remove a marquee from the grounds of his hotel after he was ordered to by the council is closing the business.

Residents complained that noise from the marquee, which was based at the Banyers Hotel in Royston, was keeping them awake.

Tony Roach was embroiled in a lengthy battle with North Herts District Council (NHDC) and this week pleaded guilty to breaching an enforcement notice which required him to remove the marquee from the hotel grounds.

Mr Roach was ordered to pay £500 towards the council’s costs and he was given a conditional discharge for three years when he appeared at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court this week. He said he has already let 26 members of staff go and that five more people will now lose their jobs.

The 46-year-old, who has lived in Royston since he was 6, said he is “sad” he will have to shut down the 13-bed hotel and restaurant which once held regular weddings and functions, but feels he has no other option.  

He said: “This long battle has ruined my family life and cleared me out financially. It’s been a complete nightmare and I wouldn’t wish the experience on anyone.

“I have had to pay back £260,000 in wedding deposits for events that had been booked. I have already had to lay off 26 members of staff and now five more will lose their jobs.”

Mr Roach said using the marquee for large events was the only way for the business to make money. Magistrates heard he had reinstated the marquee on his land in breach of an enforcement notice in May 2011, and continued to use it for a number of months afterwards.

He added: “I did what the council asked me to and applied for temporary planning permission each time I erected the marquee for an event. I regret buying the hotel but you learn from your mistakes.”

The Grade II listed building in Melbourn Street has operated as a hotel for more than 100 years. 

Mr Roach revamped the dilapidated property when he bought it in 2007, with the hope of providing an “upmarket” hotel which would serve the local community and bring in tourists.

Ian Fullstone, head of development and building control at NHDC, said: “We hope this case sends out a clear message that repeatedly flouting planning laws has serious consequences.

“The laws are there for a reason – to protect our environment for everyone to enjoy, and this is particularly important when it comes to listed buildings.”