Rick Stein attacks Padstow yokels

Rick Stein (pictured), the seafood chef, had better batten down the hatches in Padstow, the quaint west country port where he has built a restaurant and culinary empire (it is now dubbed "Padstein"). The reason? His decision to go public with a simmering row he has been having with locals over his business interests in the town.

Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Tuesday (an event now apparently used by anyone with a claim to fame to let off steam – see John Simpson on this page yesterday), he said: "Padstow is quite prosperous looking now and quite painted and tidy. There are those who would prefer it to be a romantic place, a bit down in the arse like it was in the Seventies."

Stein's attack appears to be on "ordinary" Cornish folk, who he feels blame him for the arrival of smart city types who have bought second homes in the area, pricing them out of the housing market. "Why should I be held responsible for what people do with their homes? Most seaside small coastal villages don't function very well without tourism so you either have a place which looks nice where the houses are not lived in all year or you have a place which is run down."

He added: "I don't see what else you can do with a place like Padstow. Mind you, I probably wouldn't be saying this in the village hall in Padstow!"