BBC television MasterChef judge and food critic William Sitwell has held fine dining supper club evenings at his farmstead home near Wiveliscombe for nearly three years without planning permission.

Mr Sitwell, who is also an author and journalist and writes a weekly column for the Telegraph newspaper, has been using a converted cow shed to host top-end dining under the banner ‘Sitwell Supper Club’ on Fridays and Saturdays several times a year.

He started the venture at his home in the hamlet of Rooks Nest in June, 2022, hosting about 65 guests and 10 staff with the suppers always sold-out in advance.

Now, Mr Sitwell is asking Somerset Council for retrospective planning permission for the use of the agricultural building and yard for dining events.

Planning agent Michael Goff said Mr Sitwell wanted to hold eight suppers a year to meet demand.

The agricultural building at William Sitwell's farmstead home used for fine dining suppers. PHOTO: Michael Goff.
The agricultural building at William Sitwell's farmstead home used for fine dining suppers. PHOTO: Michael Goff. ( )

Mr Goff said Mr Sitwell was ‘instrumental within the surrounding area’ in promoting local food produce within public houses and restaurants.

He said Mr Sitwell had spearheaded restaurant festivals in Wiveliscombe and Bampton involving many of the local eateries and food and drink suppliers.

The festivals were ‘extremely well supported’ and demonstrated both the interest of business owners and the local communities.

Mr Goff said the suppers provided a valuable social and community service where local suppliers had the opportunity to highlight their produce and services and local people were able to attend high quality dining experiences without having to leave the county.

He said Mr Sitwell managed the events himself to create a dining experience in a rural setting and engaged ‘exceptional chefs and catering staff’ to create a high quality dining experience using locally-sourced produce where possible and local people employed for kitchen and waiting duties.

The farmyard used for car parking for supper evenings at food critic William Sitwell's home. PHOTO: Michael Goff.
The farmyard used for car parking for supper evenings at food critic William Sitwell's home. PHOTO: Michael Goff. ( )

The events took place within an established farmyard which easily accommodated the number of guests, staff, and associated parking, and were set up during the day of the supper and the site was cleaned and cleared either the same evening or the following day.

Typically, there were about 12 guest cars, while a number would arrive by taxi with the large open concrete yard easily accommodating parking and dropping off and picking up.

Mr Goff said no permanent alterations were needed to the farm building, and the subdued lighting had minimal impact on any biodiversity, particularly as the suppers lasted for less than four hours.

He said: “The events are of a modest scale and events like these are becoming popular across the country.

“The site appearance only changes on the day of an event when it is decorated to enhance the venue, and all of this decoration is of a temporary nature and is easily removed and stored.

“The events have been very well received within the local community, especially in the periods when the Covid restrictions were being relaxed, as it allowed people to mix socially in an open environment.”

Somerset Council has set itself a target to determine the application by May 20, a few days before Mr Sitwell’s next planned dining event.