Residents of a quiet Lancashire village say their rural way of life has been disrupted by hen parties after a former care home was converted into a £6,000-a-night Airbnb described as a luxury party venue.
Set amid the countryside, Ightenhill has a population of around 1,900. Locals say the village is increasingly affected by groups of young women visiting the 30-bed Pool Party House.
The lavish retreat is marketed online as a “hen party paradise”, featuring an indoor heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, cinema and outdoor hot tubs with views across the River Calder towards Pendle Hill.
Guests have praised the converted 1900s stone barn as the setting for “perfect” weekends. However, some neighbours claim the celebrations have transformed their peaceful surroundings into a source of anxiety and disruption.
They allege that revellers have knocked on residents’ doors late at night, while coaches and minibuses carrying visitors have struggled to navigate the narrow country lane.
There is no suggestion that any of the women pictured are connected to the parties described by residents.
Residents in the Lancashire countryside say a £6,000-a-night Airbnb has disrupted what was once a peaceful rural setting
Women pictured relaxing in the property’s hot tub, with rolling countryside behind them. There is no suggestion they were involved in the alleged parties
The venue is promoted as a “hen party paradise”; one guest was pictured wearing a veil and holding a rounders bat
Guests can unwind in a large outdoor hot tub overlooking the River Calder and Pendle Hill
The converted 1900s stone barn accommodates up to 30 guests, which neighbours say has brought noisy celebrations to the area
The property includes a private bar and a nightclub-style entertainment space. It was previously used as a care home before being redeveloped by businessman and former football club owner Andrew Connolly, 64.
Also known as Hunters Oak Barn, the venue had hosted visitors since February 2019, despite not initially having planning permission to operate as short-term holiday accommodation.
When a retrospective application was submitted to Burnley Council to change the building’s use from a residential care home, local residents and Ightenhill Parish Council raised objections.
A council planning report recorded concerns about “increased noise and disturbance” linked to “large groups, social gatherings [and] late-night activity” at the property, which lies north-west of Burnley.
The report also referred to complaints about “the use of foul language and guests approaching neighbouring properties”, as well as the effect “on the otherwise peaceful character of the surrounding area”.
Residents were particularly concerned about access for coaches. Some were allegedly forced to park further along the road, at times blocking neighbours’ driveways.
According to the report, “groups of guests reportedly congregat[ed] with luggage outside neighbouring properties while waiting for transport, resulting in noise and disturbance.”
Ightenhill Parish Council also objected, warning: “Residents of Ightenhill Park Lane often complain about the traffic using the lane.
“This consists of coaches, taxis and service vehicles, often exceeding the speed limit. They also complain about noise late at night and disturbance from partygoers knocking on their doors.”
Residents say noise from the venue can become excessive and claim that revellers have sometimes knocked on their doors
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The Airbnb also features an indoor pool, which has received enthusiastic reviews from visitors
Visitors have praised the “perfect” hen weekends and “amazing” food; at least 20 guests posed for a photograph beside the indoor pool
The venue sits within Green Belt countryside and is advertised as a place “where luxury meets laughter”. Hen-party packages are available from £210 per person, including organised activities.
Its promotional material says: “Pool Party Barn transforms hen weekends into glittering, laughter-filled escapes deep in the Lancashire countryside.”
One visitor wrote: “I had my hen party at the Pool Party Barn this weekend and it was PERFECT!! There were 19 of us, and every single person had the time of their life.”
“Between the pool, the bar, the views and the hot tubs, there really was something for everyone. We booked the Sunday special, which included afternoon tea, a three-course meal and a spa treatment.
“The food was amazing and the spa treatments sent us into heaven. We had a party and karaoke in the bar area, and even managed a game of rounders outside in the garden.
“Highly recommend it for any kind of hen-do or celebration. Amazing experience.”
Another guest praised the outdoor hot tub, saying: “The views are absolutely amazing, as was the outside hot tub. Seeing the baby bunnies outside was my idea of heaven.”
Agents representing Mr Connolly, the former owner of non-league football club Rossendale United FC, rejected claims that the venue was causing disruption to nearby homes.
In documents submitted to the council, they said: “The property is located in a rural area, sited a good distance away from the nearest residential properties, and as such does not lead to disturbance of the quiet enjoyment of surrounding properties. The letting and management of the property is undertaken by local specialised holiday letting agents.”
They listed measures intended to keep celebrations under control, including a “quiet policy between the hours of 2200 and 0800” and a strict ban on stag parties.
The agents added: “This facility has operated successfully since early 2019, with significant attendant benefits to the local economy, and has also created employment.”
Despite the objections, Burnley Council planning officers found the holiday accommodation acceptable and said it would support local tourism.
Images shared online show the venue has become popular for hen parties, drawing large groups of women to the Lancashire property
The property’s bar, where one reviewer said her group sang karaoke, appeared stocked with bottles in an online image
A vaulted living room includes a pool table, bar seating and large sofas for groups of up to 30 people
They noted that the property was nearly 700 metres north of a housing estate on Burnley’s outskirts, with only a small number of rural homes between it and the venue.
Planning officers said complaints about guests knocking on doors further along the lane could not be dealt with through planning conditions.
Retrospective permission was later approved. Conditions included a ban on amplified outdoor music between 10pm and 8am and a requirement to install noise-monitoring equipment.
The council concluded that the objections from residents and the parish council were “not considered sufficient to warrant refusal”.