Paul Hollywood’s wife has won her bitter dispute with local residents over the conversion of her pub into a residential building.
Melissa Spalding and star baker Paul had invested more than £80,000 of their own money to save The Chequers near Ashford, Kent.
However, they felt the business was no longer profitable, so earlier this year their family submitted plans to convert it into a residential home.
But this attempt met with massive local resistance; residents even formed an interest group with the aim of buying the pub and running it as a community.
Melissa had told councillors that her parents had spent even greater sums to keep the business afloat, but said the company was “dying”.
Last night, at a meeting of Ashford Borough Council’s planning committee, councillors voted seven to five in favour of converting the building into residential accommodation.
This has sparked anger among locals who believe it will “ruin” the village of Smarden.
Melissa Spalding and star baker Paul had invested more than £80,000 of their own money to save The Chequers near Ashford, Kent
The Chequers in Smarden (pictured)
The Chequers Inn Pub has seven rooms and a large two bedroom owners accommodation
During the meeting it was revealed what efforts the couple had made to sell the business as a pub.
This also included marketing by four different brokers since November 2020.
One local told MailOnline: “It’s a farce. It’s going to ruin the village.”
“I hope it makes them both very happy and brings them a lot of money. But it will put the village in a much worse position.”
“What message does this send to other places and villagers?
“What importance is attached to pubs in communities today? Not at all.”
“I really hoped it could be preserved as a pub and become the centre of the village.”
“Instead, it will be a home. I’m sure it will be a lovely home, but the rest of the village will not benefit from it.”
Locals had begged the star of the “Great British Bake Off” series to intervene.
Pub owner Glenn Spalding submitted plans in January to convert the 16th-century building into a family home.
According to the plans, no construction work would be required on the property, either inside or out.
Hollywood reportedly met Ms Spalding four years ago at the pub, where she has been the landlady for 16 years.
While the TV star initially denied the romance, her car was reportedly seen on the driveway outside his nearby home, a listed building worth £1 million.
Spalding temporarily moved into the four-bedroom 18th-century farmhouse in April 2020. The couple grew close as the UK was embroiled in a national lockdown during the pandemic.
Friends later claimed that they lived together permanently at the property, which was originally purchased when Hollywood was dating Summer Monteys-Fullam.
Spalding and Monteys-Fullam had been friends for years and lived close to each other in rural Kent.
The couple married in October 2023 in a Byzantine-style chapel on the grounds of Cyprus’ most exclusive hotel.
