Bake Off star Paul Hollywood slams ‘vindictive locals’ in row over wife’s plan to turn 600-year-old pub into home

BAKE Off star Paul Hollywood has slammed "vindictive locals" in a row over his wife's plan to turn a 600-year-old pub into a home.

Paul's wife Melissa has been given permission to transform the historic Chequers Inn after a tense planning meeting.

The pub is one of only two left in the Kent village of Smarden - and fuming locals said it is a "heritage asset".

Celebrity baker Paul told the : "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 it - there's no money coming in.

"I'm not a charity. It is a beautiful pub but it is a business that is losing money."

Paul dismissed an offer he had received for the pub a few months ago as ";not realistic".

Speaking at the planning meeting, Paul said: "The last six months has shown us the worst in people’s behaviour."

The Bake Off star added: "The personal insults and attacks have been unforgivable."

Paul's representatives have been contacted for comment.

He married pub landlady Melissa last September and has reportedly splashed out more than £80,000 doing up the boozer.

The pub first went up for sale in November 2020 and is still on the market.

Melissa and Paul have gone through four estate agents since first listing the property at just under £1million.

The couple first locked eyes on each other at the historic pub near Ashford.

Parish councillor Lea Randolph said: "To get more money, they want to turn a Grade II 14th century heritage asset into a residence.

"It will deprive the village of a pub that has been part of village life for over 600 years."

But Melissa said the pub's money troubles had devastated her elderly dad.

She said: "Ask yourself – would you work a 12-16 hour shift every day just to make a loss?

"Would you do it if you were 80 years old with a life threatening heart condition?"

Councillors voted seven to five to approve the Hollywoods' application.

Paul and Melissa now have a few years to turn the pub into a private home.