Britain’s richest gypsy slams fuming locals after listing £1.8m golf course

BRITAIN’S richest gypsy Alfie Best has slammed “unsupportive” locals after putting his golf club up for sale.

The Romany millionaire, 54, is caught up in a bitter row after Sapey Golf Club was put on the market with agents Savills for a guide price of £1.8million.

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Twice-married dad-of-two Alfie, who left school at 12 and was selling cars and vans aged 14, bought the Herefordshire club in 2017, saving 26 jobs at the site which had been set to close.

He has now hit out at locals after an advertisement for the sale was posted on a social media group.

In a post on Facebook, he said he has “enjoyed watching the gossip from a few people who love to be an expert and have done nothing for their community”.

Alfie argued that he has invested millions in the local area, and that he had saved Sapey Golf Club from closing while extending the clubhouse and building lodges on the course.

He said: “This has not been easy, it has been a total uphill struggle with the council blocking us to the point we took them to appeal and won every time.

“The local residents of Sapey have not been supportive in any way.”

He thanked the club’s members for their support and said his company Wyldecrest Parks‘ only investment in the area will now be in Saltmarshe Castle Residential Park.

He added: “I have over the years invested in many areas around the world and will continue to do so.

He went on: “I can say there are some good people in Bromyard Council, they just need for the community to support more with positivity in my opinion.”

As reports of his comments circulated today, people on social media reacted with varying views.

One person said “Sounds like ‘I couldn’t get what I wanted so I’m upset’.”

Another wrote “Don’t bang on about investing in local area as everything is based on margin improvement, then fly off to Monaco.”

But a third said: “It’s the envious and jealous old farts locally who stir up the murk.

“Nothing wrong with Alfie, just like any of us, he is trying to better himself financially and, unlike a lot of us, is willing to help others along the way.

“Trouble is, Bromyard is now full of non-locals, who, having been here a few years, think that they speak for the rest of us – they do not, we appreciate what Alfie has tried to do, despite constant negativity from Bromyard councillers.”

Reports in 2017 said Sapey Golf Club had been set to close that summer but had been rescued after it was bought by Wyldecrest Parks, saving 26 jobs.

Alfie, chairman and chief executive officer of Wyldecrest, said at the time that the club would not only remain open but would expand as he announced there would be £500,000 worth of investment.

He visited the club to reassure staff and members that it still had a bright future, stressing that Wyldecrest was “building on the excellent foundations established by the late Jim Preece who opened the course in 1990”.

At the time it was stated that his company owned 62 mobile homes parks across England, Scotland and Wales.

The company wanted to use the money to invest in a gym and leisure centre, an extended clubhouse and a steam room and swimming pool.

The investment would also also pay for three lodges, which already had planning permission, so people could come to stay for a week or weekend to play golf.

Last month Alfie vowed he would be the world’s “first Gypsy billionaire”.

The business mogul amassed a fortune of £947 million after founding caravan park empire Wyldecrest Parks.

He is is now living it up in Monaco – a stark contrast to his early life growing up in a roadside trailer home.

Last month he was named on the Sunday Times’ rich list as the 173rd richest person in Britain – but wants to climb higher next year and join the billionaires.

He said: “I will just have to work harder and harder to make up the shortfall of £53 million from reaching the £1 billion figure.

“Being here in Monaco has given me a clearer vision to create a global business.”

Alfie, who made the move earlier this year, said he was greeted with an immensely warm welcome.

As well as his holiday property empire, Alfie is also the owner of non-league East Thurrock United, which he snapped up during Covid.

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