6 days ago
EXCLUSIVE Masterchef judge attacks local council after he claims it cut the number of supper clubs he can hold at his farmhouse
Controversial Masterchef judge William Sitwell has launched an extraordinary attack on his local council after he says it effectively cut the number of supper clubs he can hold at his rural Somerset farmhouse.
Mr Sitwell - who resigned as editor of Waitrose Food magazine in 2018 after joking about killing vegans - blasted council planners after he was forced to apply for permission to continue holding the Sitwell Supper Club events at his £800,000 Rooks Nest Farm near Taunton.
The outspoken food critic recently discovered that he was technically in breach of planning rules by holding the evenings in a former cow shed on the farm, because he was feeding humans rather than animals.
In response, he had to apply to Somerset Council for a change of use for the building, switching from agricultural use to accommodate dining events.
Although the application was granted, it was with the condition that he can only hold 12 events a year.
He says he had previously held a premises licence which allowed him two a week, meaning the number he can hold has considerably reduced.
'I had a premises licence granted for events on a Friday and Saturday of every week,' Mr Sitwell explained. As far as I was concerned it was kosher. Several years later this thing then popped up - I was in technical breach because I was feeding humans rather than cows or horses in an agricultural building.
'Now I can only hold 12 a year. What councils should be doing is opening their arms to say how can we help you, not how can we make life hard for you?
'The principle is completely absurd. I hire local people. I entertain local people. I buy products from local people. I buy beer from local people.
'Profit margins are very small and I haven't jacked up my prices. I'm obsessed, passionate and bonkers about these supper clubs. There is this real sense of happiness and fun and that I have created something extraordinary.
'When I'm cleaning loos or scrubbing tables and I'm thinking the local authority isn't helping me it does make me wonder 'Why do I do it? I literally do not understand it.'
Foodie Mr Sitwell bought remote Rook's Nest Farm with his wife Emily in October 2020.
He began holding supper clubs not long after, bringing in often Michelin-starred chefs to cook a full meal for paying guests.
In documents for the planning application, his agent said: 'Mr Sitwell owns Rook's Nest Farm and he is an author, editor, journalist and food critic and is instrumental within the surrounding area for promoting the use of local food produce within public houses and restaurants and recently spearheaded the Dulverton Restaurant Festival which involved not only many of the local eateries and but also local food and drink suppliers.
'The event was extremely well supported and demonstrated that the interest that the owners of such businesses have in such an event but also the great interest from the local community.
'The events that he has held at Rook's Nest Farm have also been very successful and are always sold out in advance.
His angry comments come after he was forced to apply for planning permission to continue holding the Sitwell Supper Club events
'Such events provide a highly valuable social and community service whereby local suppliers get the opportunity to highlight their produce and services and local people get the opportunity to attend high quality dining experiences without having to leave the county.'
The documents stated that Mr Sitwell is currently running around eight events a year, with around 65 diners and 10 staff.
'This application is for the change of use to allow this building and yard areas to be used for social functions that the applicant provides and manages himself, and this for the most part is creating a dining experience in a rural setting, where Mr Sitwell engages exceptional chefs and catering staff to create a high quality dining experience utilising where possible locally sourced produce,' it went on.
Tobias Palmer, senior ecologist at Somerset County Council, warned of lighting affecting bats while transport bosses told Mr Sitwell to install some electric vehicle charging points to encourage the use of EVs.
A planning officer's report recommended approval, adding: 'The conversion of the barn supports the rural tourism economy providing both employment and social benefits to the community.
'The development would have no adverse impact on ecology, subject to conditions, or highway safety.
'The consent is limited to 12 (supper club) functions a year to manage impacts on nearby residents, with the sale of alcohol controlled through a separate licensing process.'
Mr Sitwell said he felt the 12-a-year limitation was effectively 'limiting my ability to trade' and said council departments needed to communicate more effectively.
The Australian-born chef has insisted 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago
A spokesperson for Somerset Council said they were under the assumption that Mr Sitwell had agreed to 12 events a year via his agent.
More events could be held in future, but it would need a revised application, they added.
They said: 'The decision on the number of events was taken based on the information the applicant provided.'
It comes after huge controversy surrounding the BBC show with the sacking of both presenters John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Torode was dramatically axed from MasterChef - hours after the BBC's director general refused to back him over an allegation of using racist language.
The corporation said the host's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during drinks after filming the show.
The complaint against Torode was revealed in the report into co-presenter Gregg's inappropriate behaviour.
Wallace, 60, was sacked after dozens of complaints against him were upheld.
It comes as reports suggest the Australian chef could take legal action against the BBC after he was sacked from MasterChef.
Sources suggest the chef is 'preparing to launch a lawsuit against the BBC' and wants to pursue bosses for unfair dismissal.
New reports have claimed the BBC sacked John Torode after he allegedly 'used the N-word twice while singing along to a Kanye West song'.
The MasterChef host, 59, was reportedly singing the rapper's hit Gold Digger when he was allegedly 'caught using the racist term during after work drinks six or seven years ago'.
The Sun claims Torode used the word again whilst chatting to a friend on the MasterChef's production team, who didn't take offence.
The Australian-born chef has insisted 'he had absolutely no recollection' of using a racist term while drinking with colleagues seven years ago.
The person who raised the complaint is understood to have 'overheard the conversation'.
The production pal allegedly backed Torode and said he only used the racial slur as an 'example' and 'apologised afterwards'.
A witness told investigators he had apologised immediately, 'was mortified' and 'didn't use the term as a slur' in 2018.
The BBC said on Tuesday that Torode's contract would not be renewed after a report found he had used an 'extremely offensive racist term' during an evening out after filming the show.
The corporation has refused to say what the racist term was - as has Torode, who has claimed he did 'not believe that it happened'.
MasterChef bosses are reportedly pushing to air Gregg Wallace and John Torode's final series 'when the dust settles' after they were both sacked from the cooking show.
The upcoming series' - which have already been filmed - features former I'm A Celeb star and restaurant critic Grace Dent, who replaced Wallace to co-host with Torode.
The Sun reports that The BBC and production company Banijay plan to air both the amateur and celebrity editions.
However, MailOnline understands BBC director general Tim Davie, who has the final say, has not yet made his decision on whether MasterChef will or will not be aired.
