Sevenoaks Rugby Club's £3,750 ground rent drops to a peppercorn after 25 December, and eight local charities share £11,740 in town council grants. Who got what.
Sevenoaks Rugby Club will pay a peppercorn rent for the land under its Knole Paddock clubhouse once its rent is reviewed on 25 December, down from £3,750 a year. Sevenoaks Town Council, which owns the land, says the change brings the club into line with other sports clubs using similar town council facilities. In the same round, eight local charities and voluntary groups were awarded £11,740 in town council grants. (Sevenoaks Town Council press release, 2 October 2026)
Why the rugby club’s rent is going
The town council says councillors decided the rent “should be consistent with other sports clubs in Sevenoaks using similar Town Council facilities”, and resolved that after the review on 25 December the club’s rent “will be reduced to just a peppercorn rent”. A peppercorn rent is a nominal sum, so in practice the club stops paying the £3,750.
The Leader of the Council, Cllr Claire Shea, said:
“This is the first rent review for the rugby club since the lease was renewed by the last council, and it was the right opportunity to ‘level the playing field’ on clubhouse ground rent. We are working closely with the club on improving the playing fields, too, and know that there is much the Club plans to invest in around sustainability and the women’s game, in particular. I hope this will be a contribution to that growth.”
Steve Fitzmaurice, Co-Chairman of Sevenoaks Rugby Club, said the club was “hugely grateful”, and pointed to town council grant funding for work on the Paddock pitches as well as the rent:
“The grant funding for improvements to the Paddock pitches alongside the peppercorn rent on the clubhouse make a real difference, allowing us to invest more of our resources directly into rugby, our facilities and the wider community. With hundreds of junior and senior players, our Club remains at the heart of local life, and the support of Sevenoaks Town Council helps us to ensure that we are accessible, welcoming and sustainable for everyone.”
The release does not say how much the pitch improvement grant is worth.
Who got the grants
The awards were made in September by the town council’s Finance & Delivery Committee and its Youth Services Committee. The release does not say which committee made which award.
- The Lewis Project, £2,740: a year’s rent for House in the Basement, for the volunteer-led music charity.
- Age UK Maidstone, Sevenoaks & Tonbridge, £2,500: towards its information and advice service for older people living in Sevenoaks Town, covering staff costs and volunteer expenses.
- Sevenoaks Counselling, £2,000: to subsidise clients who cannot afford the recommended contribution towards the cost of counselling.
- The Sevenoaks Unit of the Sea Cadet Corps, £1,250: towards branded waterproof coats for its volunteers.
- Baby Umbrella, £1,000: to provide free one-to-one support from qualified lactation consultants and breastfeeding counsellors.
- Hi Kent, £1,000: to run free hearing aid clinics in Sevenoaks Town for a year.
- Sevenoaks Three Arts Festival, Young Musician of the Year Competition 2027, £750: towards administration costs, notably the first prize, which is named the Sevenoaks Town Prize.
- Sevenoaks PHAB, £500: towards the annual rent of a hall for its weekly club for adults with a learning disability, a physical disability or both.
The town council says its grants help charities in Sevenoaks “to continue delivering activities, services and projects that benefit residents”.
What it means for you
If you run a charity or voluntary group serving Sevenoaks Town, the next round closes on Friday 8 January 2027, and the Finance & Delivery Committee will consider applications in February 2027. The form and guidance notes are on the town council’s grants page, and applications go to the Town Council Offices, Bradbourne Vale Road, TN13 3QG, or by email.
If you use any of the services above, the grants are for the year ahead: free hearing aid clinics from Hi Kent, free breastfeeding support from Baby Umbrella, subsidised counselling and Age UK’s advice service for older people.
The town council’s Community Engagement team is on 01732 459953 or communityeng@sevenoakstown.gov.uk. For more on what the town council has been doing this autumn, see our reports on the Stag pledge appeal and the Greatness Pavilion.
Sources
- Sevenoaks Town Council, press release: Sevenoaks Town Council provides grant funding for local charities and rent support for Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 2 October 2026 (sent to Sevenoaks Online)
- Sevenoaks Town Council, grants information, checked 2 October 2026
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