Frustrated neighbours are angry about a venue's plan to keep a marquee up for eight months a year to host outdoor events.

The Clarendon Royal Hotel in Gravesend erected the temporary fixture during the pandemic under the government's scheme to help the hospitality trade when indoor activities were banned.

The structure 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 this has been at their expense.

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. The Clarendon has made themselves really bad neighbours.

"It is not nice. We love it here apart from all this, it is a real shame."

Emma Baker, 48, who owns a property in the Mews which is connected to the hotel, added: "I understand it is a business but it never used to be like that.

"It used to be a lovely hotel and bar, it used to be really nice. Now all you see from our windows is that big white thing.

"We have just lost the beauty of the river. There is a place for it but that is not the place. It is a conservation area. It has taken away the beauty of where we are and the historical building."

The residents group have made noise complaints to the hotel and attempted to call the police when music events supposedly go on for around 11 hours at an "unacceptable" volume.

On July 16, Daniel said he recorded music levels of 85 to 95 decibels and described "windows shaking from the bass noise and even glasses in a kitchen cupboard rattling."

Emma added: "There is a massive noise issue. The windows rattle when there are loud events there. It is horrible. I do not feel safe."

Mum Anna Vitalis, who lives in Royal Pier Road, said: "My daughter was trying to revise for her 11+ but she could not because of it.

"I want them to reduce the noise level. We cannot stand it. We cannot even invite our friends over as it is so loud, it is unacceptable.

"We moved here from London. We would have never come here if we knew it would become like this. We liked this road as it was quiet, we have thought about moving.

"Our daughter used to play outside, now we cannot let her because of the people outside when they have the events.

"I feel really down when we have these days. I know next week will be the same. It is unbearable to sit in our own garden."

The residents did say they understood the business does need to run events to stay afloat after the impact of covid but had concerns over the noise disturbance and anti-social behaviour that follow.

Noura Mokhtar, 41, explained many customers leave the marquee and congregate or sit on her front door step in what she described as "no escape".

Anna, 43, said she has 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.

Despite this, the hotel has a 3.5 star rating in TripAdvisor with 101 excellent reviews.

One visitor Luke Carpenter said: "Visited for a live soul night with some mates. The music was sensational. The staff were fantastic and could not do any more. Great and quick service.

"The place looks fantastic, done up really well. The food was also class, you would think it was Michelin star. Overall great experience and would definitely recommend."

Londoner Christina commented: "We stayed here with some colleagues for a work social event. The location was lovely and overlooked the river with boats and cruise ships.

"It was easy to check in and the room was very clean. The shower was amazing and by far the best thing about the stay.

"The breakfast was also tasty and the bar had good availability with a nice outside seating area by the river."

And a visitor from Dorset wrote: "Stayed for one night to do some sightseeing in Gravesend, chose Clarendon as it has ideal central location on riverside.

"I would happily stay again especially if they addressed my constructive polite suggestions. I think this hotel has bags of potential."

Bosses at the Clarendon have now put in a planning application to Gravesham Borough Council for retrospective permission to erect the marquee between March 1 and October 31 temporarily for three years.

They want 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."

As it would be taken down for four months of the year, the owners do not expect there to be "any impact on the listed building or the schedule monument".

It added: "The site already forms an outside seating area in connection with the hotel, bar and restaurant as such the erection of a seasonal temporary marquee is not considered to create any additional noise, loss of light, overshadowing or loss of amenity."

The marquee is currently still up but should be coming down soon. If planning is approved they will be able to put it back up in March.

At the time of writing, the proposal had received 26 objections. A decision is expected by Friday, December 2.

The Clarendon was approached for comment but did not respond.