Luxury Glamping Site Faces Massive Compensation Claim
The aristocratic owners of a boutique glamping site, who previously appeared on Channel 4's Four in a Bed, are facing a £700,000 lawsuit after a guest suffered a serious back injury on their zipwire attraction. Guy and Alison Lubbock operate Adhurst Yurts, an exclusive off-grid glamping business set within ancient woodland on their 500-acre Victorian estate near Petersfield, Hampshire.
The Accident That Changed Everything
In October 2022, London recruitment consultant Jonathan Sharpe, then 36, was enjoying a £1,100 pre-booked stay at the luxury site with his two young children. The high-end yurts, costing £500 for a weekend, feature hygge-inspired interiors with clawfoot baths and iron bedsteads, alongside activities including bushcraft and fly fishing.
While using the zipwire with his two-year-old daughter, Mr Sharpe fell from the platform onto his buttocks when the equipment failed. The incident resulted in a devastating L1 burst fracture - a serious spinal injury involving the collapse of a vertebra midway down his back.
Legal Battle Over Compensation Amount
Although the Lubbocks and their insurers, NFU Mutual Insurance Ltd, have admitted liability for the accident, they are vigorously challenging the scale of Mr Sharpe's compensation claim. The recruitment consultant argues his life and career have been severely impacted by the injury, necessitating the substantial damages.
However, the defence filed at London's High Court disputes many elements of the claim, including nearly £10,000 for a first-class trip to Australia and over £100,000 for future holiday costs. Lawyers for the Lubbocks state: "It is not admitted that the claimant has any accident-related need for business class travel."
The defence also contests claims for future care (£171,017), childcare (£92,555), gardening (£66,598) and DIY (£69,914), noting that Mr Sharpe has returned to full-time work. Interestingly, they claim the wooden handle failed rather than the zip line itself, contrary to Mr Sharpe's account.
The case represents a significant legal challenge for the Lubbocks, who are sixth-generation owners of the estate surrounding the Grade II-listed Adhurst St Mary house. Their family connections include actress Helena Bonham Carter, though they clarify she never lived in the property. The outcome of this high-stakes legal battle awaits a hearing date at London's High Court.
