Alan Carr's £3.25m Castle to Get Café

Comedian Alan Carr has lodged plans to convert a potting shed at his castle in the Scottish Borders into a café and estate shop. The planning application, submitted to Scottish Borders Council, is part of his efforts to turn the ageing estate, Ayton Castle, into a workable home.

The castle, which was bought by Carr earlier this year, was previously put up for sale with an asking price of offers over £3.25m. The proposed café and estate shop would include public toilets, staff welfare and storage facilities, and would be located in the castle's walled garden.

The potting sheds, where the café and shop would be located, were in a 'severely derelict state' before the plans were lodged. However, a heritage impact statement supporting the application stated that any change which could bring the potting sheds back into use would be a 'highly positive development'.

## What's Next The plans are now awaiting approval from Scottish Borders Council, who will decide at a later date if the plans should be allowed to proceed. If approved, the café and estate shop would be a significant step in Carr's efforts to restore the estate to its former glory.

## Why it Matters The development of the café and estate shop is not only important for the estate itself, but also for the local community. The heritage impact statement noted that the redevelopment of the potting sheds could encourage people to visit the estate, which could have a positive impact on the local economy. Additionally, the plans are part of a larger effort by Carr to turn the estate into a workable home, which will be documented in a new TV series.

The TV series, planned for release on Disney, will follow Carr's attempts to restore the estate and make it a viable home. The series will likely showcase the challenges and successes of the restoration process, including the development of the café and estate shop.