Bucket and spade shack that’s now world-famous restaurant
THE G7 l eaders l ast ni ght enjoyed a barbecue prepared in a humble-looking hut that a few years ago was just a shack selling beach gear.
Husband and wife team Simon Stallard and Jemma Glass took over t he 75- year- old t i mber shed on Porthcurnick Beach a decade ago and have turned it into a hugely popular restaurant called the Hidden Hut with a famous clientele that includes Dame Judi Dench, Dawn French and Ben Fogle.
Mr Stallard, 40, a chef who specialises in outdoor cuisine, moved from London to Cornwall more than 15 years ago to work at a gastropub, but always had his eye on the National Trust-owned beach hut on the Roseland Peninsula after spotting it while foraging for seafront wild herbs.
Ms Glass, 35, meanwhile, grew up in the village of Portscatho, in the next bay along, and worked in the hut as a teenager selling ice-creams and plastic buckets and spades to tourists.
Reviews describe the Hidden Hut as offering ‘the best beach fun with [your] clothes on’. There are no deep- fat fryers, with dishes cooked outdoors over a wood or charcoal fire.
By day the Hidden Hut serves up soups, chowders and spiced dahls, and pasties, sausage rolls and cakes.
It is also well known for its ticketed events. In 2017, more than 22,000 people applied for just 600 tickets for its thricemonthly ‘summer feasts’ – selling out in just eight seconds.
Last night, the leaders of the world’s wealthiest nations were served up four courses of local fare, including Curgurrell crab claws, seared moorland sirloin, Newlyn lobster and Portscatho mackerel. They watched the sun go down with baked brie, hot buttered rum and toasted marshmallows while gathered around firepits on the white sand beach. Usually the beach hut doesn’t have an alcohol licence but last night leaders were served local beer and sparkling wine, German Riesling, Australian Shiraz, and ‘hedgerow fizz’ cocktail, containing prosecco sloe gin and cherry brandy.