Paul Hollywood jumped to the defence of his wife Melissa. The Great British Bake Off star's spouse reportedly revealed plans to close their family's Grade II-listed pub in Kent at the end of August due to declining trade. The Chequers Inn in Smarden is 600 years old and Melissa's been granted permission to turn it into a home.
Ashford Borough Council's planning committee granted the family the rights to transform the pub, but it hasn't gone down well with locals. Documents stated changes at the "heart of the village" would "conflict with the aims of promoting the economy", per villagers. Now Paul has spoken out about the criticism, telling the BBC : "The vindictiveness from the locals towards the family who have been here 18 years is unforgivable.
If the villagers themselves want to get their act together and put a bid in and buy it, that's fine. "At the end of the month it's earmarked to close because they cannot sustain the money that's coming in because there's no money coming in." He told the local news station that the pub was failing, despite thousands being pumped into the business for renovations.
"I'm going to have to step in and help them out, personally, but I'm not a charity," he said. "I have given a substantial amount of money to turn it into what it is now. It is a beautiful pub but it is a business that is losing money.
" It's not the only row he's had with locals. Paul is reportedly causing a stir among his neighbours by flying his new helicopter around his ga.