Latest news with #SardineFactory
The Sun
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
English coastal town which tourists are flocking to after popular UK TV show is filmed there
LOOE in Cornwall has seen a huge boost in visitors thanks to BBC series Beyond Paradise. The BBC series starring Kris Marshall and Sally Bretton returned to screens in March. 4 4 The two main characters, Humphrey and Martha originally met on the fictional island of Saint Marie in the original series Death in Paradise which was filmed in Guadeloupe. Actors Kris and Sally later reprised their roles in the UK-based series, which filmed in Cornwall. The series has attracted millions of viewers, and the town of Looe has since become very popular with fans of the show flocking there in the summer. Talking to the BBC, Ben Palmer, chef and owner of the Sardine Factory in Looe, said: "Beyond Paradise has had a very positive impact on the town. People are visiting us more here, which is great. "At the restaurant we have seen a massive uptake in bookings, which is fantastic." Mr Palmer's business was featured in an episode on the show, although it was renamed the 'Ten Mile Kitchen'. He added: "People are coming down to visit us to see the set they saw on the episode, so we are very lucky and privileged to have been featured. "And we've seen an uplift in bookings and I'm very positive that other businesses have too. We all need that at this time of year and it has been warmly welcomed." The spin-off to Death in Paradise started in 2023 and is set in the fictional town of Shipton Abbott. The beaches of Looe and Fore Street which is near the East Looe River are popular locations. Behind the scenes of your favourite TV shows 4 The Grade II listed Guildhall is what is used for the Shipton Abbott Police Station. Martha's restaurant, The Ten Miles Kitchen, is filmed in The Stables, Port Eliot House & Gardens, a cafe 20 minutes inland from Looe in the parish of St Germans. For anyone wanting to take a snap of the TV cafe, it's also a chance to stop in for coffee, brunch and a look over the garden estate. According to Tripadvisor, other top places to visit in Looe include the Valley Vineyard, which has brilliant reviews of its wine tour and tasting, open between May and October. One visitor wrote: "What a lovely find! Charming, informative and friendly. We had a wonderful time on the tour and tasting." Another guest, who said they had been on wine tours around the world, said this was "the best I have ever been on." Looe is also on the South West Coast walking path of Cornwall which stretches over 300 miles so is a great location for hikers. For anyone wanting to explore the water you can hire boats, or take organised trips around the coast. You can also go crabbing, and of course swimming - of which East Looe Beach is popular. Here are . And this pretty village in England was visited by Walt Disney and was the home of a famous author. Sun Travel Ventured Down To Looe For A Visit I'M standing on the edge of a rugged clifftop looking out to sea, while the wind howls around me and ferocious waves crash on to rocks below. We're on the periphery of the old fishing harbour Polperro, in south east Cornwall, just a few miles from the ancient port of Looe. My family and I have just walked half an hour along the scenic coastline from Park Holidays' Seaview village where we are staying. Grandad has managed to carry 18-month-old Jude on his shoulders the whole way. He deserves a pint (or two) for his effort so we pile into The Three Pilchards to sink some local beer and tuck into ginormous portions of cider-battered fish and chips. This pub is the oldest in the village and dates back to the 16th century. Inside, it is cosy, atmospheric and what my dad describes as 'a proper pub'. The garden terrace is where you'll want to be though, with breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding cove. Polperro itself, with its many ancient winding streets and white-washed houses, is charming. The salty smell of the sea air and the wobbly old-fashioned houses evoke a feeling of how the town was centuries ago — fishermen coming back after a day at sea, heartily downing their jugs of ale and singing their shanties. Hidden away on a pretty stretch of the rocky Cornish coast, we feel isolated from modern life. There are no Ubers here, but local taxi drivers are speedy and cheap. 4
Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'BBC's Beyond Paradise has put our gorgeous town on the map - bookings have surged'
BBC's Beyond Paradise has prompted fans to flock to a beautiful rural coastal town, with local businesses seeing a surge in bookings and tourism, according to recent reports Beyond Paradise has earned a legion of fans since its debut in February 2023, quickly becoming one of the BBC 's most popular new crime dramas. As a spin-off of the popular Death in Paradise, the series follows DI Humphrey Goodman - played by Kris Marshall - after he traded the Caribbean for the quaint English town of Shipton Abbott in Devon. Joined by his fiancée Martha (Sally Bretton) and a lovable new team, including Zahra Ahmadi, Dylan Llewellyn, and Felicity Montagu, Humphrey tackles quirky small-town cases in the much-loved episodes. But Beyond Paradise isn't just fun to watch, it's had a real impact on the area where it's filmed. Residents in the stunning Cornish town of Looe have said the series has brought an influx of visitors, helping local businesses to thrive. And according to a BBC report, tourism is booming and business is better than ever. One local, Ben Palmer, chef and owner of the Sardine Factory in Looe, told the news outlet: "Beyond Paradise has had a very positive impact on the town. People are visiting us more here, which is great. At the restaurant, we have seen a massive uptake in bookings, which is fantastic." The business was even featured in an episode of Beyond Paradise, although it was renamed the "Ten Mile Kitchen". Reflecting on the experience, he added: "It was quite funny to see our restaurant turn into something else. People are coming down to visit us to see the set they saw on the episode, so we are very lucky and privileged to have featured." Looe, located 45 minutes from Plymouth, is home to 'hidden treasures', including beautiful woodland, cobbled streets with independent shops and local restaurants, and sandy beaches that are safe for swimming. The town is divided into east and west by its river and connected by the famous Looe Bridge. While the two halves are different, they both boast charming views. Meanwhile, Adam Hackett, owner of Choklet, a cocktail bar in Looe, shared how Beyond Paradise has also brought "amazing" changes to his business. "We're seeing a huge footfall off the back of the programme," he said. "We're seeing more customers, including a lot more foreign tourists, actually." It comes as DI Humphrey star Kris Marshall opened up about his favourite filming locations, revealing his love for the seaside. "I'm a big fan of getting my 'vitamin sea'—whether it's surfing or swimming, being by the water makes me happy," reports Cornwall Live. He added: "One of my favourite filming locations is Rame Head in Cornwall. It offers stunning views and has a fascinating abandoned military site, complete with old tanks and artillery steps. It's a great spot for filming and after work you can head down to a secret cove for a swim." The actor also revealed another cherished location, describing it as a peaceful escape. "Another favourite is Mothecombe Beach, which is a secluded spot only accessible on foot," he said. Meanwhile, Zahra Ahmadi, who plays Detective Sergeant Esther Williams, particularly enjoyed filming in the picturesque village of Charlestown. She shared how much she loved the location, staying nearby in St Austell at the time. Dylan Llewellyn, known for his role in Derry Girls, echoed the sentiment, sharing his love for filming in Looe. The actor, who plays PC Kelby Hartford, spoke fondly of the town, saying, "Looe is always one of my favourite locations." He added: "It's such a lovely spot and the people there are so accommodating, always great sports when we're filming. There's just something about filming in such beautiful parts of Devon and Cornwall that makes it all feel even more special."
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Restaurant in Cornwall bookings rise 444 per cent as popular TV drama returns
A waterfront restaurant in Cornwall saw bookings rise by 444 per cent during the first episode of the latest BBC One series of Beyond Paradise. The Sardine Factory, owned by chef and Great British Menu series 19 contestant Ben Palmer in Looe, was heavily featured in the episode, prompting an online rush to book at the harbourfront venue. The online restaurant booking system saw 245 bookings made last Friday evening, compared to 45 on the previous Friday – a whopping increase of 444%. The restaurant, which has a Michelin Bib Gourmand, was a central focus of the first episode in series three, where DI Humphrey Goodman's partner, Martha Lloyd (played by Sally Bretton), opens up her new venue of business venture Ten Mile Kitchen. The exterior of the restaurant during filming (Image: BBC) Cornish fans of the show were tickled by a traditional Devon versus Cornwall scone stand-off during one of the scenes, where two police detectives from either side of the border are seen to be battling it out while layering on jam and cream in opposite orders – the Cornish officer naturally going jam first. There was further drama in the restaurant during the season opener, when Martha's mum Anne (played by Barbara Flynn) has a fall in the kitchen, prompting Chef Ben to call out humorously to his chefs on social media: 'Who forgot to mop up the spill guys?!' The series, which is headed up by Kris Marshall as DI Humprey Goodman, is showcasing areas of Cornwall and Devon to a wider audience on national television, with much of the series filmed in Looe. Palmer, who also owns Traditional Greek Restaurant YAMAS on the other side of the water, said: 'It was so exciting to be approached by the BBC and asked if they could use the restaurant for filming. 'The team have done an incredible job of shining a spotlight on Looe and surrounding areas and now we are seeing an uplift in bookings a direct result. We are over the moon. 'And we will definitely be checking the kitchen floor more thoroughly for spills in the future after Anne's little slip!' READ MORE: Everything to know for Beyond Paradise Series 3 starring Kris Marshall Visit to Looe, Cornwall, where Beyond Paradise is filmed Ben, who won the starter course of last year's Great British Menu, taking his Firefly dish all the way to Paris for the banquet, recently saw two of his recipes featured in the Great British Menu 20th anniversary recipe book which was published in January. Season 3 of Beyond Paradise continues tonight (Friday) on BBC One at 8pm.
BBC News
13-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Beyond Paradise effect: Cornish town of Looe sees tourism surge
Businesses in a Cornwall town have said tourism and revenue have both increased due to BBC drama Beyond programme, now in its third series, is filmed in Cornwall and Devon, with the Cornish town of Looe setting the scene for the fictional Devon town of Shipton Palmer, chef and owner of the Sardine Factory in Looe, said: "Beyond Paradise has had a very positive impact on the town. People are visiting us more here, which is great. "At the restaurant we have seen a massive uptake in bookings, which is fantastic." Mr Palmer's business was featured in an episode on the show, although it was renamed the "Ten Mile Kitchen". "It was quite funny to see our restaurant turn into something else," he said. "People are coming to down to visit us to see the set they saw on the episode so we are very lucky and privileged to have featured."And we've seen an uplift in bookings and I'm very positive that other businesses have too. We all need that at this time of year and it has been warmly welcomed." Adam Hackett, owner of Choklet, a cocktail bar in Looe, said the impact of the show had been "amazing". "We're seeing a huge footfall off the back of the programme," he said."We're seeing more customers, including a lot more foreign tourists, actually."He said his business had seen a 20% rise in takings compared with the same time last year."They have seen the programme and it's brought them down to Looe. I think it's made a huge difference," he said. Jade and Emma Hadley, from Wiltshire, were visiting shooting locations while on holiday in Cornwall."It's really nice to spot the bits that you see on the telly and go around," said Jade. "We've been spotting different areas all across Cornwall, but the police station was definitely a highlight. We even had our picture taken there."Emma said: "It's quite nice to watch Beyond Paradise while actually being in the area where they filmed it. It's like an added bonus to our holiday."The women also enjoyed seeing familiar faces from the show. "We saw Kris Marshall [who plays Det Insp Humphrey Goodman] walking along the way," Emma said. "It was very nice to see him in person."
