The celebrity chef, Mark Hix, has reached boiling point with local officials who have opposed his plans for an outside decked eating area.

The Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen star, who studied at Weymouth College, built the large wooden deck at his luxury seafood restaurant during the pandemic.

The three-level extension was automatically approved as the government relaxed regulations to help the hospitality trade serve food outside.

Mr Hix applied to retain the structure permanently but town hall bureaucrats have rejected the proposals, claiming it encroached on public gardens.

The 40ft by 26ft space outside Mr Hix's Oyster and Fish House enjoys sweeping views of the sea at Lyme Regis on Dorset's Jurassic Coast.

Dorset Echo:

  • Photo: BNPS

The 59-year-old restaurateur, who opened the eatery in 2020, said his income would be reduced by around 30 per cent if he is forced to tear the £20,000 decking down.

An irate Mr Hix is now threatening to withdraw his charitable support for the seaside town, pulling out of the annual food festivals and fundraising events he hosts, which he says have raised "hundreds of thousands of pounds" for the local RNLI and boosted tourism.

The TV personality and food writer claims to have the support of almost every eatery in the quaint harbour town.

He has accused the Lyme Regis Town Council of being 'anti-business'. He is also threatening to burn the wood from the decking outside the town hall in protest if he has to take it down.

Mr Hix said: "We have got the best reputation of any restaurant in the town and the small-minded council should be on our side.

"These people have no interest in business and seem to be anti-tourism.

"Over the years, I have done a lot for the town in terms of charity and events but they've totally ignored that. You would think they'd be more supportive.

"We have had a food festival showcasing local produce and there was live music on the beach which raised a lot of money for the lifeboat station and the Fisherman's Mission, a charity supporting the families of those lost at sea.

"The whole town would benefit from the tourism - 5,000 people visited. After having done a lot for Lyme Regis, it just seems pointless.

"If I have to take down the deck, I won't be supporting the RNLI and I wont be doing any festivals.

"Anything that brings tourism to the town events, festivals, local charities connected to the town council and tourism will be withdrawn.

"I have the support of most of the businesses in the town. It will probably come to all us restaurants shutting down the streets. That's the general feeling among us.

"I might even take the wood from the terrace and set fire to it outside the town hall."

The deck was built on a piece of land in Lister Gardens, owned by the town council, which he said had 'never been used' before he developed it.

The council rejected the plans, claiming they were an 'ingress' into a public amenity and had a 'detrimental effect on the gardens'.

The Lyme Regis Society, which aims to safeguard the architectural and natural beauty of the town, also objected, saying that making the decking permanent would "set a dangerous precedent in leasing or selling off parts of Langmoor Gardens for commercial benefit."

Mr Hix continued: "Before I built on it, there was a bit of grass on a slope with a hedge. There are no bylaws saying you can't build on that land and it was completely useless.

"The council granted permission and now they're objecting to me keeping it.

"After lockdown, it brought me a lot more business which made up for the closures.

"It is a great addition to the restaurant and the gardens, especially in the summer months.

"Ninety per cent of people here support it but three councillors have objected.

"The worst case scenario is that I have to take it down. It would have a big impact on my business.

Dorset Council will make a final decision on Mr Hix's planning application in the near future.

Mark Green, the deputy clerk at Lyme Regis Town Council, said the council had supported Mr Hix through the pandemic.

Dorset Echo:

  • Lyme Regis town councillors say they have been supportive of Hix Photo: BNPS

He said: "The council granted temporary permission for HIX, and several other local businesses, to provide additional outside seating on council-owned land as part of the government's request for local councils to support the hospitality industry through the pandemic.

"Initially, that permission was granted for one year. This was subsequently extended for a second year. More recently, the council has agreed to extend that temporary permission for a further six months until March 31, 2023. All of these permissions were granted at a nominal cost to help support HIX and others.

"The council has recently recommended the refusal of a planning application submitted by HIX to make the additional outside seating permanent.

"The council was concerned about the permanent encroachment into the public gardens of a commercial use and the large, decked outside seating area which accompanied it.

"That application has now been withdrawn by the applicant pending further discussions."