A waterfront restaurant in Cornwall saw bookings skyrocket by 444% during the first episode of the latest BBC One crime drama series Beyond Paradise. In the series, Detective Inspector Humphrey Goodman relocates from tropical Saint Marie to sleepy Shipton Abbott, cracking cases and hoping for happily ever after with his fiancée Martha. Following the third season, The Sardine Factory is experiencing a rush of bookings.
In the episode, DI Humphrey Goodman’s partner, Martha Lloyd (played by Sally Bretton), opens up her new venue of business venture Ten Mile Kitchen. Cornish fans of the show were amused by a traditional Devon versus Cornwall scone rivalry in one of the scenes, where two police detectives from opposite sides of the border clash while spreading jam and cream in different orders – with the Cornish officer putting the jam on first.
The popular restaurant, renowned for its fresh seafood and breathtaking harbour views, featured prominently in the episode, showcasing its picturesque setting to a nationwide audience.
The restaurant is owned by chef and Great British Menu series 19 contestant Ben Palmer in Looe, a coastal town in south-east Cornwall. Palmer also owns a traditional Greek restaurant YAMAS on the other side of the water.
On his website, Ben shares his vision for the Sardine Factory: “I just wanted to create a restaurant that was really relaxed. I wanted it to be a place where people felt comfortable coming straight from the beach in their shorts and t-shirt.”
Palmer told the Cornish Times: “It was so exciting to be approached by the BBC and asked if they could use the restaurant for filming.
“The team have done an incredible job of shining a spotlight on Looe and surrounding areas and now we are seeing an uplift in bookings as a direct result. We are over the moon.
“And we will definitely be checking the kitchen floor more thoroughly for spills in the future after Anne’s little slip!”
