The millionaire owner of Britain’s ‘biggest man cave’ has accused neighbours of bombarding him with prank calls in the middle of the night – after taxpayers were forced to foot the £220,000 demolition bill.
Graham Wildin, 73, spent more than a decade fighting to preserve his illegal 10,000 sq ft leisure complex after building it behind his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, in 2014.
The ‘man cave’ – initially a bowling alley, casino and cinema – was built without planning permission. It at one point included plush squash courts and a soft play area.
Forest of Dean District Council began pulling the complex down in June last year, with drone pictures showing it now resembles a ‘concrete car park.’
Local residents said they were delighted to see the ‘man cave’ gone – but details of the enduring resentment have now been revealed in fresh planning documents.
In an application to approve a noise management plan at the Airbnb now operated by Mr Wildin on the site, his representatives refused to publish a personal number for neighbours to report breaches.
It instead wrote: ‘Local residents are already aware of the owners’ place of work, Wildin & Co. The relevant contact telephone number and email address are provided within the Noise Management Plan.
‘The email address is accessible by all owners on their mobile phones, including weekends.
The structure was built in 2014 and Mr Wildin endured a decade-long battle to keep it at his home in Cinderford, Gloucestershire. It is pictured here – prior to demolition – in January 2025
The man cave is pictured last month. Forest of Dean District Council began pulling the complex down in June last year, with drone pictures showing it now resembles a ‘concrete car park’
Neighbours said things had improved since the extraordinary man-cave was knocked down
‘The owners are not willing to provide personal mobile telephone numbers to neighbours due to previous issues with prank calls received at unreasonable hours, which are believed to have originated from some neighbours and which the police have been unwilling to pursue.’
The noise management plan was approved last month, satisfying a planning condition of turning the site into a holiday let.
Representatives of Mr Wildin added: ‘A noise monitoring system has been installed at the property and will alert the owners immediately should noise levels exceed agreed thresholds.
‘The owners consider that the combination of this system, together with the provision of a work contact telephone number and email address, provides a suitable, proportionate, and effective method of managing and responding to noise-related issues.’
Among the restrictions placed on guests are a ban on the outside hot tub between 11pm and 7am and any other ‘excessive noise’ during that period.
Neighbours said things had improved since the man-cave was knocked down.
One said: ‘It has all gone very quiet. He [Graham] has his moments but keeps himself to himself – there’s no noise or trouble from the holiday home.
‘The main trouble was back when there were loads of vehicles on the road.’
Mr Wildin, pictured, had previously been locked up after he refused to remove the complex
Mr Wildin’s man cave also included a casino complete with a roulette wheel and its own bar
Mr Wildin’s spectacular man cave had room for a football table along with a sitting area
Building work on the road backing on to the mancave was ongoing this week and another neighbour said they were delighted to see it gone.
They said: ‘It was about time and I think everyone down the bottom are very happy it has gone.’
Another neighbour added: ‘I don’t know anything about any prank calls to him but that probably shows just how much he upset people here.
‘He thought he could keep throwing money at it and get away with it. But there’s nothing left now – so what did he really achieve?’
Mr Wildin did not respond to requests for comment on the prank calls.
Forest of Dean District Council had earlier confirmed it would be pursuing costs from Mr Wildin over the demolition of the complex.
Mr Wildin first took steps to construct a leisure centre in the back garden of one of two adjacent houses he then owned at Meendhurst Road in November 2013, prompting a member of the public to submit a complaint to the council.
Shortly after the start of construction, various council officers advised Mr Wildin the proposed building was not a ‘permitted development’ and required planning permission.
Graham Wildin inside the leisure centre he built for himself and his family in his back garden
The structure even came complete with a fully equipped gym inside
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Following a series of warnings, in November 2018 the council obtained an injunction against Mr Wildin, and he was given until April 25, 2020, to demolish the leisure building.
In legal proceedings brought by Forest of Dean District Council in June 2022, Mr Wildin was found in contempt of court for non-compliance with the injunction.
The judge sentenced him to six weeks imprisonment suspended for 12 months, on the condition that the building be permanently stripped and decommissioned within 18 weeks.
In March 2023, Mr Wildin appealed the prison sentence – though this was dismissed.
