Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin-starred restaurant The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire has come under fire by neighbouring residents who are protesting against a planned extension.
In 1999 Blumenthal successfully applied for planning permission for a new roof extension and a storage shed at the bottom of the garden behind the restaurant to add more kitchen space and a wine cellar.
However, the planning permission expired before the building works were carried out and the chef reapplied for it earlier this year.
Despite the fact that the extension will not add extra covers to the restaurant and therefore won’t increase the number of diners visiting it, residents are now protesting about the potential impact of a surge in customer numbers with several of them having written to the local council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, to oppose the project.
Criticism includes the traffic chaos and the behaviour of “foul-mouthed” chauffeurs dropping off diners, as well as smells protruding from the restaurant’s kitchen.
A spokeswoman for Blumenthal told the Independent: “This is the same application that we put forward in 1999. I don’t see what’s changed.
“We have 15 tables and space for 46 diners maximum. Those limitations are still in place.”
Bray Parish Council has recommended refusal of the planning proposals but the local council said it needs further information before setting a date for a hearing.
Last year, Gordon Ramsay came under fire by residents in New York, who were complaining about his restaurant at the London hotel in Midtown Manhattan.
Heston Blumenthal to create dishes for Manchester International Festival >>
Top restaurants accused of overcharging diners for champagne >>
Chef Giancarlo Caldesi to move to Michelin-laden Bray >>
By Kerstin Kühn
E-mail your comments to Kerstin Kühn here.
| | Newswire
For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail news alerts. | |