THE owners of the multi-million pound Channels Estate have spoken out to quash rumours their business is set to fold.

The Stubbings family, owners of the 300 acre Little Waltham golfing grounds revealed in October their once thriving 18-hole golf course will wind down.

It came after the company suffered a 20 per cent reduction in membership, sparking rumours the business will shut for good.

Katie Squire, 37, is one of the fourth generations of the Stubbings family, and general manager of Channels.

She said: “It’s very very sad, the family has worked exceptionally hard on the golf course, we have loved it.

“But now it’s time to change and we understand if we don’t embrace these changing times then the business wouldn’t survive.”

While the golf course will shut in March, the estate aims to stay afloat as a visitor attraction, hotel, restaurant and wedding venue, with the remaining 9-hole golf course will remain open at Little Channels. A £750,000 overhaul of the restaurant will double table covers to 110 in March.

Plans for a microbrewery are also in the pipeline, alongside a beer festival in late April, Katie said.

She added: “We want to place ourselves as the village gastro pub, and reach out to the new locals in the new homes.

“Also, if there are any local suppliers who want to speak with us, we’d love to focus on that element too.

“This is all huge change for us, and of course you get a feeling of apprehension with a new, big project, but there are exciting times ahead.”

Brentwood Live:

KATIE (top right) took time out of her schedule to speak to the Weekly News about growing up as a “wealthy person.”

The ex-Moulsham School student told of a childhood rife with bullying, having to pick friends carefully and difficulty finding boyfriends, while

growing up on the plush Pratt’s Farm Lane estate.

She said: “It was hard at school, people would call me a rich snob and that would be really upsetting.

“Especially when you’re young and trying to make sense of the world -

you’ve just got to learn to get on with it. I didn’t have many mates, but a

few close friends.

“As a kid, I always had to be careful who I hung around with, because often you’d find that person would want something.

“And boyfriends, yes, that was tricky, it was hard finding or keeping a bloke sometime because some felt as if they were in the public eye - the whole ‘you’re going out with a rich girl’ thing.”

She added: “What’s life like waking up here every day and working here?

“It can drive you mad.

"All I see is work, but I’ve got a great family and team around me.”