THE UK’s richest Gypsy Alfie Best has hit back at claims a caravan park he owns is “full of bubbling sewage”.
Alfie is renowned for being the richest gypsy in the UK as well as the proud owner of Wyldecresy Parks in Cornwall.
However, residents at the park have complained about a sewage problem and the price hike to solve it.
Alfie told The Sun: “We’re a company that has 16,000 residents.
“We’re the biggest park operator to ever exist in history, in Europe or the UK.
“Our closest competition is 50 per cent smaller than us.
“We’re the person that’s always going to catch a lot of wind.
“Tall trees always do.”
Nonetheless, the park’s insufficient sewage system has resulted in residents demanding Alfie pay for improvements.
“Are we perfect as a company? No. Course not,” he added.
“I’m the first person in the world that will tell you that I make mistakes every day.
“But 16,000 residents can’t be wrong, with a waiting list of 300 people to move onto our park.”
It comes after Brian Smith, 57, revealed he wishes he never bought his mobile home in Alfie’s park.
The retiree was looking forward to settling down with his wife in 2022.
But he now claims he is forced to empty their waste tanks every six days.
He said he can’t sell his caravan at the moment because of the “bubbling sewage” pouring into his bathroom.
The 57-year-old alleged his neighbours had left their property because of the smell.
He pays £196 every three months for sewage removal fees, whereas caravan owners in a nearby park pay just £13.
The price increased by £140 from when Brian originally moved there.
He believes the price hike is due to the pipes “not working” and said he’s tried every “avenue” to get it fixed.
However, Brian said the caravan company “just blow you off” each time.
In his latest attempt to get it sorted, he has refused to pay his renewal notice due to a “lack of maintenance”.
Brian told Cornwall Live: “The financial burden is one thing and it’s good that it doesn’t get the chance to overflow because it’s emptied every six days but I’ve watched the chap empty the system and as he does it’s flooding through again like Niagara Falls.”
Yet, the self-made business tycoon hasn’t confirmed when and if the sewage problems will be fixed.
Born into a Romani gypsy family, Alfie didn’t start his life in immense wealth and by the age of ten he had started work.
The UK’s richest gypsy has amassed a caravan park empire with over 90 sites across Europe and the US, employing 380 people.
As of April 2024, Alfie’s empire is reportedly worth around £1.2billion.
He has an estimated personal wealth of roughly £745million.
The British multi-millionaire decided to leave the UK and live as a tax exile in Monaco in April 2024.
It comes after Alfie said he’s flogging his luxury millionaire’s hotel because it’s YOUR turn to make a fortune.
Billionaire Alfie has put the Hop Pole Hotel in the Herefordshire town of Bromyard on the market at a guide auction price of £165,000.
The 54-year-old has gone on a selling spree after he decided to leave the UK and live as a tax exile in Monaco.
Alfie told Sun Online: “This is a fantastic opportunity for an entrepreneur.
“They can to put their own stamp on one of the most beautiful and historic towns in the UK.”
He added: “The hard work has been done in getting the planning permission.
“Now everything is set to create a beautiful centrepiece boutique hotel in the middle of Bromyard.
“It is now up for auction with Savills on May 8 and I wish whoever buys the property the very best of luck.”
Alfie was born in a roadside caravan before going on to become Britain’s richest Traveller.
But he has now driven off to the billionaire haven of Monaco ahead of a new UK tax year.
Alfie has already sold off eight supercars worth millions along with his prized £4.5million seven-seater Airbus ACH130 helicopter.
He bought the Hop Pole Hotel in 2019, vowing to plough £1.2million into restoring it.
In 2021 plans were submitted to Herefordshire Council to turn the market square hotel into a five-star venue.
Permission was granted two years later for a number of alterations including roof-lights and a basement dining area.
But Alfie said the project was hampered by the building’s listed status.
He claimed he had received “abuse instead of support” in the Herefordshire town.
The abandoned and peeling building is now reportedly under threat of enforcement action.
A Zoopla listing for the property describes it as being located in an “attractive market town” with 17 rooms on the first and second floors.
Alfie is now renting a two-bed flat in Monaco which overlooks the famous Formula One course until he gets residency in the millionaires’ playground.
He still owns a £7million house near Ascot, along with a £10million yacht moored in Cannes and a £4million Knightsbridge townhouse.
Speaking exclusively to the Sun Online, Alfie revealed why he quit Britain to move overseas.
He said: “Look, I love Britain through and through but it seems we’ve lost our way.
“We’re chasing our business entrepreneurs out the front door.
“Sir Jim Radcliffe’s left, Sir James Dyson said he’d never leave but he went, Richard Branson’s left, too.
“The list goes on. They can’t all be wrong.”
To prepare for the move, he sold his entire supercar collection, including two Bugattis – a 300mph Chiron and a 250mph Veyron – together worth in excess of £3million.
He also flogged a Porsche, Bentley, Rolls-Royce convertible and two Mercedes G Wagons.
Alfie was born in a gypsy caravan on the side of the road near Leicester in a snowstorm.
He quit school in Broxbourne, Herts, age 12, because he had already been working for two years, hawking Tarmac door-to-door with his dad.
By the time he was 17 he became a car dealer after selling a Ford Escort for £1,100 before moving into vans and mobile phones.
Nearly 25 years ago, aged 30, he set up Wyldecrest Parks, buying his first 120-mobile home site near Romford, Essex, for £1.7million.
The company now has more than 16,000 residents at over 100 sites from Inverness to Lands End employing 400 people.
The company recently expanded into the USA where US tycoon Warren Buffett – the fifth richest person on the planet – is a rival park owner.
Alfie also owns Wyldecrest Events, which owns some of the most expensive hospitality boxes at venues in the UK, and he is launching Best Wealth Network for aspiring tycoons.
In May, the next edition of the Sunday Times Rich List is expected to record Alfie’s fortune at £947million. If he sold his company tomorrow he would get more than a billion for it.
His wife Emily-Jane, son Alfie Jnr and daughter Elizabeth, who sits on the company’s board, will continue to live in the UK when the tycoon moves to Monaco.
