Benches outside The Sportsman Public House
July 2025
We’ve recently received a number of enquiries regarding the removal of the benches on the grassed area next to The Sportsman Public House. To help clarify the situation, we’ve put together a few Frequently Asked Questions below.
Q: I remember there were benches on the grassed area near The Sportsman. Why have they been removed?
A: The placement of benches on registered Common Land has always required a licence from Banstead Commons Conservators. This year, the publican of The Sportsman chose not to renew their licence and has therefore removed the benches.
Q: I heard the bench licence fee went up this year and was too expensive. Is that true?
A: The fee for each bench is £65. This is a small increase from the previous rate of £60, which remained unchanged for five years. Under this licence, The Sportsman is permitted to place up to 17 benches on the Common. It’s worth noting that we waived these fees during the Covid pandemic to support local businesses during that difficult time.
Q: I’ve seen more benches placed directly outside the front of The Sportsman recently. Are these allowed?
A: Yes, under licence, The Sportsman is allowed to place up to three rectangular benches along the roadway immediately in front of the pub. Each bench must not exceed two metres in length. However, as the licence has not been renewed this year, these benches will also need to be removed unless the licence renewal is completed.
Q: Can the benches be reinstated if the licence is paid?
A: Absolutely. While we completely respect the publican’s decision, we believe the benches have long been a valued feature — enjoyed by both customers of The Sportsman and visitors to the Commons. We would be very happy to see them return if the licence is renewed.
A bit about us:
Banstead Commons Conservators is a small, grant-funded organisation responsible for managing and protecting a large area of registered Common Land within the borough of Reigate and Banstead. The licence fee helps cover the administrative work involved, with any surplus supporting the ongoing care and maintenance of the Commons.
Thank you for your continued interest and support in helping us preserve these beautiful shared open spaces for everyone to enjoy.