Lancashire's Michelin Guide restaurant Eight at Gazegill seeking permission to stay open
Bosses at one of Lancashire’s most-celebrated new restaurants have been fighting a planning headache behind the scenes - but say they’re confident it can be resolved.
Organic farmers Ian O’Reilly and Emma Robinson opened Eight at Gazegill at Lower Gazegill Farm, Rimington, in March 2024 in a bid to diversify their income and offering.
In less than two years they have cemented their place among the country’s top-table of food talent by combining with chef Doug Crampton, and last week were rewarded with a Michelin Green Star - received by restaurants which offer dining experiences that combine culinary excellence with responsible initiatives aimed at reducing their overall impact on the natural world.
They also took home two Lancashire Tourism Awards - for Regenerative Tourism and ‘Taste Lancashire’.
But in the background, the couple have had a planning headache - and are now seeking retrospective permission to continue use of the single storey restaurant building, outdoor seating area, play area and vehicle parking area from Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC).
What’s the issue?
Farm bosses were granted permission for the erection of a cafe building on site, as part of a recognised diversification scheme. The foundation was poured in October 2018, but the build duration was significantly extended due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated cashflow constraints affecting the business.
During the construction period, the nature of the food service offering evolved beyond the originally envisaged tearoom operation. A statement to RVBC said: “This evolution was driven by changing market conditions, the impact of COVID-19 on the hospitality sector, and a fortuitous opportunity to engage a highly skilled chef capable of delivering exceptional farm-to-table dining experiences. The result is a restaurant operation that, while more sophisticated than initially planned, remains fundamentally true to the approved diversification principle of providing refreshment facilities conneged to the agricultural enterprise.
This application seeks to formalise the development for the restaurant operation that “has become integral to the agricultural viability of this traditional Pennine mixed livestock farm.”
Management say there are no unacceptable highway safety impacts, and argue that the restaurant operation “enhances rather than undermines the agricultural enterprise”, adding that retrospective planning permission should be granted “on the basis that the development represents an exemplary model of sustainable rural diversification that secures the long-term future of a working farm while delivering substantial economic, social, and environmental benefits to the local area.”
39 jobs
Mr O’Reilly said the issue was a “technicality” and hoped it would be resolved shortly. The restaurant is operating as normal in the meantime.
He said: “When we started, we weren’t sure what it was going to be, then as it developed and we crossed paths with Doug, the vision became clearer. We thought we had the right paperwork, as we had permission for a cafe/restaurant, but obviously, we didn’t. Now we’re working with the council to get it right and continue developing this rural enterprise.
“There’s 39 people pay their mortgages off this 250 acre farm site, so it’s important and hopefully Ribble Valley Borough Council see our application is good. We’re told by politicians to diversify, so that’s what we’ve done.
“I’m confident we will get this through and be able to move on. We want to carry on running a great business.”
Expense
Mr O’Reilly said the business has already spent £20,000 just on planning specialists at a time when the hospitality industry across the country is struggling, and has had to accumulate 18 months of traffic data to demonstrate the restaurant does not cause any highways issues.
Hours
The restaurant operates four days per week according to the following schedule:
Thursday from 12-7pm.
Friday and Saturday from 10am to 11.30pm.
Sunday from 12-6.30pm.
The original planning permission referenced operating hours of Monday to Saturday 9.30-6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm, which the applicant states: “was understood as an estimate rather than a firm restriction.” They add: “The current operating pattern reflects the realities of running a quality dining establishment while respecting residential amenity.”
A decision will be made in coming weeks by RVBC.
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