Masterchef restaurateur wins council seating row
BBCA former Masterchef finalist and restaurant owner said he believes he has won his battle with Bradford Council over outside seating it wanted him to remove.
Matt Healy had threatened to end the lease early on his Forde eaterie in Ilkley after officials claimed he had made alternations to the premises without permission.
But, following a public outcry and an eleventh-hour meeting with the council's letting agent, the seating now appears set stay at the unit in the Moors Shopping Centre.
A council spokesperson said it was "working with Forde restaurant to resolve issues relating to their lease" and was "hopeful that a suitable way forward can be found".
Healy said: "I don't want to point the blame at anybody in particular because I think it's just down to a lack of communication between the council, their managing agents and us being stonewalled.
"I think something's gone along the line and someone's got upset with what we've done because they've not been informed."
The businessman said he didn't have any "ill feelings" toward the local authority.
"I guess they're just doing their job. But now the stonewall has come down and we've had a conversation," he explained.
"There are a few Ts to cross and Is to dot, but it looks like we're staying here."
The 43-year-old, who was 2016's runner-up on the BBC's MasterChef: The Professionals, said he was bowled over by the public's support after he posted on social media.
"For those people to care so much abut what we do, about this beautiful little corner of Ilkley. It's really nice to... feel like that," he added.
As well as the Ilkley restaurant the dad-of-three also runs his flagship Forde restaurant in Horsforth, along with wife and business partner Holly.
The council had said previously that the restaurant had "undertaken alterations to the property" which were not within the terms of its lease.
Commenting after the latest meeting between the two parties, councillor Ian Eglin, Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said: "As we have said previously, we are keen to work with all our tenants, where we can, to help make their ventures successful without breaching terms of lease, planning or other regulations.
"We are working with Forde restaurant to resolve issues relating to their lease, and are hopeful that a suitable way forward can be found."
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