A major fundraising event for a Devon hospice will still take place this weekend, despite a neighbourhood dispute over noise.
The Rio Carnival at the Dartmoor Lodge Hotel was planned to feature a steel band, a drag artist and dancers outdoors, raising money for Torquay's Rowcroft Hospice. It was called off after complaints from a small number of neighbours.
A revamped indoor event will now go ahead on Saturday instead, still in aid of the hospice. The drag artist remains the headline act, and a signed England football shirt will be auctioned, among other highlights.
Hotelier Jane Coles said the decision to move indoors was made 'with genuine sadness and considerable frustration'. It came after complaints and objections from what she described as a 'very small number' of locals about activities at the hotel's Little Lodge, a separate building next to the main hotel.
"Rather than have any more animosity or nastiness we decided to bring it indoors," she added. "The event isn't how we wanted it to be, but it is still on."
The initial cancellation of the outdoor event was greeted with dismay from supporters online, with one saying: "We need more of these things in the local area, not less. We need to keep local people local, and not drive them to towns further afield for entertainment."
Ms Coles said the hotel had been part of the local community for more than 70 years.
"Community means something to us too," she said. "We provide space for Ashburton Community Fridge to store and distribute food donations received from local supermarkets.
"Through our Portreeve 30p Pint, Dartmoor Lodge donates 30p from every qualifying pint sold to support this year's Portreeve and their chosen local charities, and for every fish and chips sold from our day and evening menu we donate £1 to Rowcroft Hospice.
"These aren't things we do because somebody requires us to. We do them because we believe a local business should be part of its community, and that is why the present situation is so upsetting."
The Dartmoor National Park Authority, which is responsible for planning matters at the location, has recently taken enforcement action over the Little Lodge.
Teignbridge Council says it has also received complaints from local residents about noise, alleged planning breaches and anti-social behaviour linked to activities at the Little Lodge.
The two authorities say they have been working together 'to help resolve the issues and reduce their impact on neighbouring residents'.
Ms Coles said Teignbridge had advised the hotel to amend its licence. The Dartmoor Lodge won an appeal over live music and restricts noise to 75 decibels – equivalent to the sound of passing traffic. She said she was waiting to hear more from the council over the hotel's licensing issues.
Teignbridge had asked for more information about the Rio Carnival to establish whether it could legally take place under the current premises licence, but the decision to cancel was made by the hotel management, said a council spokesperson.
Ms Coles said the event was part of the hotel's ambition to contribute to the community.
"The locals really want us here and we have invested a lot of money in the business," she said. "It deserves to be making a noise. It deserves people to be laughing and having fun.
"Dartmoor Lodge has been doing that for years. Let's put some life back into the community."
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Devon Hotel Moves Carnival Indoors After Local Complaints