Beyond Paradise restaurant's celebrity owner 'proud' of show but admits to 'kickback' from locals
The Sardine Factory in Looe, Cornwall, is the real-life location of The Ten Mile Kitchen, which is owned by chef Ben Palmer, who won the Great British Menu in 2024
Kris Marshall on reuniting with Love Actually co-star
BBC Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise launched in 2023 and set to the backdrop of scenic Looe in Cornwall. Kris Marshall returns as Humphrey Goodman from the original series, now solving crimes in the make-believe Shipton Abbott with his detective crew.
Additionally, the story delves into Humphrey's home life with his partner, Martha Lloyd (played by Sally Bretton), who steps into the culinary scene with her venture The Ten Mile Kitchen.
The actual venue used for Martha's enterprise is owned by none other than chef Ben Palmer, crowned champion in the 2024 Great British Menu.
Palmer discussed with the Daily Express how his restaurant, The Sardine Factory, became a pilgrimage site for fans and the community's mixed reactions to its newfound fame.
Beyond Paradise stars Sally Bretton and Kris Humphrey
(Image: BBC )
Following The Sardine Factory's feature in Beyond Paradise's third season, reservations skyrocketed by 444%, spiking from 45 to an astounding 245 bookings within a week.
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Despite the boost to business, some local residents have expressed discontent over the influx of visitors flocking to their town. Ben confided: "You know you get a lot of kickback from a lot of locals saying, we don't want more people coming to town, but you know what it's so important to bring tourism to the restaurant business, we rely on it," reports the Express.
Ben disclosed that despite some negative reactions, many locals have welcomed the attention, saying: "As locals, we were all really proud when we saw our beautiful kind of hometown on the telly, it was really kind of cool, and everybody was kind of asking, 'where is this beautiful place?'"
Beyond Paradise's Ten Mile Kitchen takes place in The Sardine Factory
(Image: BBC )
He added: "You know, we're incredibly lucky. It kind of gives you a sense of feeling like we're really proud that this is our hometown, and it just showcases it, making you realise how beautiful it is as well."
Admiring his locality, Ben remarked: "It's a lovely place, but then when you come to see it, you think, 'my God, it is actually,' we're very lucky.
"It's a very beautiful place, and then everybody wants to come and visit where they saw on TV, which was really cool."
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Regarding the popularity of Beyond Paradise, Ben acknowledged his surprise, confessing: "I never kind of really watched it, and then obviously I thought, you know, it's in my own town and stuff, you might catch a glimpse of someone you know. I started to watch it and, you know what? It's pretty good."
Ben opened his restaurant back in 2018 as a part of reinvigorating the town, which also included opening a museum. The Sardine Factory gets its name from its previous incarnation as an old sardine processing plant.
Beyond Paradise in available on BBC iPlayer
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