Has Asia's richest man turned Stoke Park into a 'glorified Airbnb'? Country club members claim revered golf course has been 'sold from beneath their feet' and turned into playground for the rich and famous after super wedding bash

Former members astatine a celebrated play people featured successful James Bond movie Goldfinger declare nan iconic venue has been 'sold beneath our feet' and turned into a playground for billionaires since being bought by Asia's richest man. 

Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire was purchased successful 2021 by Indian magnate Mukesh Ambani, who closed it for extended 'renovations' and terminated nan memberships of its 850 members. 

Shortly aft nan purchase, a two-year task scheme was announced for a revamped play people and a seven-star edifice wrong nan palatial clubhouse, which was utilized arsenic a backdrop successful James Bond movie Goldfinger. 

But 3 years later nan clubhouse remains off-limits and only a fistful of golfers person been capable to play - including nan England cricket squad earlier their Ashes bid against Australia past summer. 

Golf members are said to concerned nan Ambani family person nary existent volition of moving a due play and state nine astatine Stoke Park and alternatively scheme to usage nan tract arsenic a 'glorified Airbnb' erstwhile they are successful Britain. 

A spokesperson for nan nine insisted activity was still ongoing to 'restore its accommodation and present a world-class edifice and play course, arsenic good arsenic to protect and heighten nan practice assets and parkland for nan use of early generations'.

They powerfully rejected nan proposal that nan clubhouse was simply being turned into a 'grand individual home' for nan Almbanis. 

The able family, who besides ain Hamley's and were reportedly willing successful buying Boots, person been successful nan headlines precocious for possibly nan world's astir lavish bid of wedding celebrations costing an estimated £250million. 

On Friday, Mukesh celebrated his boy Anant's matrimony to Radhika Merchant, nan girl of a able pharmaceutical mogul.

VIP guests who jetted to Mumbai to be nan sparkling arena astatine the 16,000-capacity Jio World Convention Centre included Boris and Carrie Johnson, Tony Blair, Kim and Khloe Kardashian, Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas and WWE prima John Cena.

Pictures from nan celebrations showed a 'Disneyland' including immense flower sculptures and a recreation of an antiques shop and a shop trading lassi - a Punjabi yogurt–based beverage.

After nan ceremony, guests explored nan lavish group up, which included a lassi shop (an Indian beverage) and an ancient shop, 'we're successful a magical world', Julia said. 

The nuptials followed 7 months of royal pre-wedding celebrations and festivities, including capacity by Rihanna and Justin Bieber, arsenic good arsenic an 800-person Mediterranean cruise. 

It has since emerged that nan family whitethorn person enjoyed different backstage wedding statement astatine Stoke Park, pinch photos and videos connected societal media tagged 'private pre wedding party' showing a disco pinch guests dressed successful white. 

Meanwhile, successful June, photos were shared connected Instagram showing Miss Merchant wearing a white Tamara Ralph couture wedding dress wrong what appears to beryllium nan clubhouse. 

A spokesperson for nan nine told The Times they could not remark connected nan quality of backstage events. 

Former members who said to nan newspaper connected information of anonymity shared their interest astir nan course's future, pinch 1 claiming it had 'been sold from beneath our feet'. 

Mukesh Ambani bought nan lease for £57million via Reliance Industries Limited, nan genitor institution of a immense business empire spanning energy, petrochemicals, earthy gas, retail, entertainment, telecommunications, wide media and textiles.

Some pointed to an statement reached during nan waste process that nan Ambanis would person to support nan mansion clubhouse arsenic a state nine aliases edifice and not usage it arsenic backstage property. 

Thomas Hogg, a section Tory councillor, told the Financial Times that he was concerned nan Ambanis had been surviving astatine nan mansion aft nan acquisition. 

The newspaper reported that Stoke Park's rule firm, Withers, had written to Buckinghamshire assembly successful 2022 to opportunity nan Ambani family had from 'time to time' occupied nan spot to create nan renewal plans … 'consistent pinch nan permitted edifice use'. 

One angry erstwhile personnel raged to The Times: 'It's a glorified Airbnb, if you like. Albeit a alternatively ample and costly Airbnb.' Another says: 'It feels for illustration nan spot of a feudal court. It reminds maine of Trump astatine Mar-a-Lago.'

Designed by Harry Colt successful 1908, Stoke Park is considered 1 of England's champion courses and regularly classed among nan apical 100 successful nan world. 

A mini number of golfers person been allowed to play connected nan people since nan 2021 acquisition connected a pay-to-play basis. 

Stoke Park said it soon plans to connection nan number of playing days from 3 days a week to five, pinch up to 12 tee times - allowing up to 48 group a time to play. 

The tract now includes a caller 'gold academy' featuring a 15-bay driving scope and an indoor 'swing studio'.

The Ambanis are known successful India for their conservation activity and location now appears to beryllium a menagerie of animals astatine Stoke Park including peacocks, horses and tortoises. 

Meanwhile, a section reportedly claimed to person seen llamas grazing connected an enclosure by nan erstwhile ninth hole.

It is not nan first contention involving the Ambanis, pinch nan family sparking anger successful 2021 aft unveiling plans to build nan world's biggest zoo connected a 280-acre crippled of onshore successful occidental India.

They announced they want to location astir 100 different type successful nan zoo and build an animal rescue sanctuary successful nan metropolis of Jamnagar.

The Ambanis sparked anger among animal authorities activists aft 2 uncommon achromatic panthers were transferred from a state-run zoo to their ain backstage constitution successful a 'hush-hush' move.

Stoke Park, which covers 300 acres, was besides known for hosting nan yearly Boodles tennis championship, which helped players hone their writer tribunal skills successful nan lead-up to Wimbledon.

Former US president Donald Trump was said to beryllium willing successful buying nan nine successful 2021. It was antecedently owned by nan backstage King family. 

Stoke Park provided a statement: 'For nan first time, nan play people is now unfastened to nan wide nationalist connected a much inclusive salary and play model. The salary and play exemplary determination was communicated to erstwhile play members successful 2022 arsenic nan early business exemplary for play astatine Stoke Park.

'We person besides hosted a scope of high-profile events pinch accommodation already disposable during nan renovation, including nan Boodles, nan luxurious summertime plot statement pinch top-flight tennis, kindness events arsenic good arsenic play days. 

'We cannot remark connected backstage agreements betwixt Stoke Park and its commercialized clients. We are continuing to activity intimately pinch nan assembly arsenic some our landlord and readying authority and different stakeholders, successful compliance pinch nan guidance, applicable rules and regulations.'