US actor Kelsey Grammer, best known for his roles on “Frasier” and “Cheers,” is facing criticism from neighbours for allegedly abandoning his 200-year-old seaside cottage in Portishead, UK. Despite receiving permission to demolish the historic property, locals say the once-beautiful home has been left to fall into disrepair.
Grammer purchased the £1 million cottage four years ago with hopes of renovating it. After an initial plan to build an extension was rejected by North Somerset Council, the actor was granted approval to demolish the property under a permitted development loophole. The decision sparked outrage among neighbours who voiced their concerns through official planning objections.
Since receiving demolition approval nearly a year ago, no work has commenced on the property, and neighbours report the house remains empty and visibly deteriorating. “It’s a lovely home but it looks like it’s going to rack and ruin,” one resident said. “We haven’t seen him for ages and the place is starting to fall apart. If he plans to knock it down, it seems there’s no point in maintaining it.”
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Other neighbours describe the cottage as “shabby” and “looking pretty run down,” pointing to a collapsed wooden shed and numerous felled trees in the garden near a public footpath. Some speculate Grammer may have abandoned the project after backlash from the community: “We were expecting demolishers last March, but nothing happened. It looks totally unloved now.”
Over the years, Grammer’s connection to Portishead has deepened through his wife, Kayte, who grew up in the area. While the actor previously expressed enthusiasm for the coastal property and its scenic views, locals are disappointed by the current state of neglect. Grammer’s legal team faced criticism for their handling of demolition notices, with some branding the move as “arrogant” and “disrespectful.”
Despite the controversy, Grammer’s career remains strong, including a recent reboot of “Frasier” in the US. Meanwhile, questions remain about the future of the historic cottage, which neighbors hope will be restored rather than left to decay.