Christ Church Gate for a holiday?

KentOnline / KMTV

Church leaders have revealed plans to turn one of Kent's most iconic buildings--deeply rooted in Christianity--into a holiday let.  Christ Church Gate, built in the 1500s, stands as the main entrance to Canterbury Cathedral and is arguably the most photographed.  Facing financial pressure, cathedral bosses say transforming the space into an Airbnb would offer unique accommodation. But critics have called the idea ludicrous.  Gabriel Morris has been fielding opinion

Transcript

00:00As Kent's most popular tourist attraction and UNESCO World Heritage Site,

00:05hotels nearby command high prices, especially with a view.

00:10But what if you could stay inside it?

00:14New plans propose a holiday apartment behind these windows on the Christchurch gate.

00:20The one-bedroom flat would feature an open-plan kitchen, breakfast bar and two toilets.

00:26The cathedral claims the design avoids permanent changes to the historic structure,

00:31but the idea has alarmed this local tour guide.

00:35It just doesn't seem right to put a holiday let in such a beautiful grade one listed building.

00:40I mean, it's Baroque and early Renaissance.

00:42It's a wonderful building and it just seems to, I don't know,

00:46it just seems to diminish what we've got going on here, you know.

00:50And if that holiday let was just for the church to make money,

00:53it doesn't sit well with me, that.

00:56And we've got the Canterbury Gate Hotel next door.

00:58That was once used by Pilgrims.

01:00Do you think Pilgrims might use the holiday let?

01:03I think it's so high-end.

01:04I think we're talking high-end American tourists here.

01:07In recent years, the gate has undergone a £1 million facelift.

01:12The gate's currently being laser-cleaned as part of the restoration process,

01:16but when the scaffolding comes down, if it becomes a holiday let, will that be popular?

01:22Well, I think it's absolutely absurd, to be honest with you.

01:25It's got a lot of history behind it.

01:27You know, like you say, it's a listed building.

01:29And the fact they can turn it into a holiday let,

01:31when there's also a housing crisis, you know, in the country,

01:34is absolutely absurd.

01:37I do think it's a good idea because it brings more people to the city.

01:42It's kind of a bit of a waste of the building just being office work,

01:46so obviously it gives more people a nice place to stay with a nice building.

01:50I mean, it would be a really cool stay, but I just feel like, you know,

01:55it's going to detract from really what it is, like, you know,

01:57you're kind of selling out God a little bit.

02:01Cathedral bosses told us they want to continue their centuries-old tradition of hospitality,

02:06serving the local community and welcoming guests from across the world.

02:11Proposals have only just been submitted for the holiday let by the cathedral,

02:15and their planning process could take some time.

02:18But if it's given the green light, it could soon be a room with a pew.

02:23Gabriel Morris for KNTV in Canterbury.

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