Mark Hix: Thousands sign petition to keep decking outside Dorset’s Oyster and Fish House restaurant

Thousands of people have turned up the heat on bureaucrats who have ordered a celebrity chef to tear down an illegal decked seating area at his luxury restaurant.

More than 4,000 have signed a petition in support of Great British Menu and Saturday Kitchen star Mark Hix, 60, who is furious town hall officials are ‘defying the will of the people’. 

The structure was built during the pandemic to create extra outdoor eating space for Mr Hix’s Oyster and Fish House, Lyme Regis, Dorset, when building regulations were relaxed.

But councillors have argued the three-tier wooden decking is no longer a ‘permanent structure’ and has given Mr Hix eight weeks to remove it because it encroaches on council land. 

Mr Hix claims to have the support of almost every eatery in the harbour town and has accused the Lyme Regis Town Council of being ‘anti-business’.

He fears the restaurant could close if he loses the outside space which cost £20,000 to build.

Mr Hix also claimed the council would lose £14,500 a year in business taxes, as well as secondary revenue from customers. 

He said: ‘I’m furious, it’s incredibly frustrating and there is nothing else I can do.

‘I would ask everybody to sign that petition to show exactly how unpopular it is going to be when it is taken down.

‘The mayor helped me open the balcony area, I couldn’t believe it when he voted to destroy it.

‘Unfortunately it doesn’t look like the council is listening, they are defying the will of the people.’

Mr Hix added that the community support had been ‘fantastic ‘ and everyone was doing ‘everything’ they could to help him but he didn’t know what he would do if the council still demands it is taken down by the end of March.

The Oyster & Fish House’s official statement reads: ‘A petition has been set up to save the deck and shared with us to spread the word.

‘If enough people sign it ahead of 8th February, it will be discussed at the next council meeting on 15th February.

‘The area that this deck is on was a wasted piece of grass adjoining the restaurant that has never been used in the 14 years of The Oyster & Fish House being there.

‘We very much doubt it was used before we opened either.

‘The current deck does not obscure any views for anyone in the garden, to the contrary, it offers a space to sit and enjoy the view, and also for parents to safely watch their children in the mini-golf.

‘We have had so much feedback saying that it enhances the area, and also gives people a safe space to eat if they do not feel comfortable indoors post-pandemic.

‘An annual rent of a proposed £14.5k would be paid to the council but they don’t seem to be bothered by that.

‘We are all very angry and upset in equal measure. We all work so hard to create a wonderful restaurant with great food and service.

‘We don’t want to see the deck go and if it affects the business as badly as it could we also don’t want to lose our jobs.’   

Graham Turner, one of the seven councillors who voted against the decking, said: ‘The government were very clear about what you could have in the pandemic.

‘You could have temporary seating with tables and chairs but they had to be taken in at night. I am afraid the decking is not acceptable and has no permission from the council.

‘Technically it is an illegal structure because he does not have permission.. We have given him an extension to the end of March but it needs to be gone by then.

‘There is no appeal process – we own the land. If it is not gone by the end by then, we will go to enforcement notices.

‘Technically we could go down and get rid of it ourselves because it is an illegal structure.

‘The whole thing has turned a bit sour but if he gets away with keeping it there, the next person will think they can build something and ask later.’