Work halted on Marco Pierre White’s new restaurant after 34 skeletons are found
Work halted on the site in Somerset after grisly discovery
WORK on chef Marco Pierre White’s new restaurant has been held up — after 34 skeletons were found on the site.
A special Ministry of Justice licence had to be obtained to safely remove the remains.
The diner — MPW Steakhouse Bar & Grill — will be in a hotel currently being built on the site of a 16th century hospital at Bridgwater, Somerset.
But workers have uncovered historic remains on the site earmarked for the £9million building.
The hotel is being built on former site of a 16th century hospital, which looked after travellers and pilgrims.
Experts in the town say it was also the wealthy rector of nearby churches.
Marco, 54, had previously spoken of his delight in opening a restaurant in the county.
He said earlier this year: “Somerset is one of my favourite parts of the UK, and I’m incredibly excited to watch the new restaurant unfold.
“We have a very successful restaurant at Cadbury House in Congresbury and I can see a lot of similarities here.
“My restaurants are not stuffy or pretentious; instead they are about enjoying your evening, with excellent food and drink in luxurious, relaxed surroundings and quite simply having a good time.
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“That’s the kind of experience that our guests in Bridgwater can look forward to, with something to suit every taste and budget.
“I call it affordable glamour and we hope it’s an experience our guests will want to return to again and again.”
The town’s historical care group said it had stepped in to make sure archaeologists were involved in the building.
Bridgwater and District Civic Society Vice-Chair Hannah West said in an online statement: “We have had to remind the various agencies involved that ancestors of local people were buried at the hospital.
“It is not the first time developers have been found destroying historical sites in Bridgwater, for example in 2012, residents found builders in Friarn Meadow digging up human remains and lying them out along the street – on that occasion developers were also supposed to have an archaeologist present.
“More must be done by the Local Authorities to protect the interests of our community, laws are there for a reason and they wouldn’t get away with it elsewhere.”
Mercure Hotels and Marco declined to comment when approached by The Sun.
Last week a spokesman for the developers said: “Within the local community of Bridgwater and Sedgemoor District Council, there have been rumours relating to the activities on the site of the New Mercure Bridgwater Hotel.
“At the request of local agencies, it was necessary to withhold information concerning some finds on the site.
“We can confirm that on a small section of the site, some historical human remains were located.
“Specialist persons were appointed and a licence from the Ministry of Justice was obtained for the removal and transportation to a new location of the remains.”
