William Sitwell, the MasterChef star and recently appointed owner of The White Hart Hotel in Wiveslicombe, Somerset, has openly described his experience of taking over the pub as “hell.” Despite reopening the establishment last week with ambitious plans to renovate 14 rooms, Sitwell claims that newly introduced government business rates have severely impacted his venture.
In an opinion piece published by The Telegraph on December 12, Sitwell criticized the government official Reeves for what he called “making his life hell” through the harsh business rates. He wrote, “For doing this, Reeves is either dim or malevolent. Welcome to my sleep-deprived, energising, creative, life-enhancing, frenzied new world. Welcome to my hell.”
While the government has announced a £4.3 billion support package aimed at pubs and restaurants—promising an average saving of £4,800 annually for independent establishments—Sitwell’s initial weeks have been plagued by a series of operational setbacks. He revealed that he only signed the lease three days prior to the pub’s reopening, and his planned sous chef suddenly pulled out at the last minute.
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Further compounding difficulties, Sitwell faced issues with unprocessed food orders, a leaking kitchen ceiling light during heavy rain, and internet outages that hampered essential card payment systems.
William Sitwell, who descends from the historic Sitwell family of Barons, has led a notably outspoken career. Notably, as a Conservative commentator, he stepped down from his role at Waitrose Food after a controversial email in which he joked about writing a “series on killing vegans, one by one.”