Alan Carr plans castle potting shed cafe and shop

Comedian and Celebrity Traitors winner Alan Carr has lodged plans to convert a derelict potting shed at his Scottish castle into a cafe and estate shop. He submitted the planning application to Scottish Borders Council for the vacant buildings within the walled garden of Ayton Castle, which he purchased earlier this year.

Carr bought the 19th-century Ayton Castle after it was listed for offers over £3.25 million. "Some men when they have a midlife crisis buy a Lamborghini or grow a ponytail, but me - I want my very own castle," he said at the time of the purchase, according to the BBC. A residual sale of hundreds of unwanted items from the estate was recently held, with all items from the unusual Branxton Cement Menagerie finding a buyer except for a concrete cow.

Proposed Development Plans

The application seeks to redevelop part of the castle's walled garden. The proposed conversion would create a community cafe and an estate shop, including public toilets and staff welfare and storage facilities. A heritage impact statement submitted with the application describes the potting sheds as having sat vacant in a "severely derelict state."

The statement argues that bringing the buildings back into use would be a positive step. "For the portion that is to be converted into a cafe and shop, the dilapidated state means that any intervention is an improvement," it adds. The document concludes that the plans would have minimal negative impact and represent a "highly positive development" for the estate buildings.

Long-term Estate Vision

The cafe and shop plan is presented as a first step in a broader commitment to the walled garden. The heritage statement notes "a long-term commitment from the client to clear, repair and invest in this space over the coming years." The proposal aims to preserve the historic buildings while adapting them for a new, sustainable use.

"The proposal by our client to preserve and convert the potting sheds into a cafe and estate shop is both an appropriate change of use and one which meets all the basic principles of preservation, conservation and long-term sustainability while managing change in historic buildings," the statement said.

Future Projects and Series

Beyond the immediate planning application, Carr has a television series in development. Plans are reportedly in the pipeline for a Disney series that would follow his efforts to make the Scottish estate a workable home. The council will decide on the cafe and shop application at a later date.