Comedian Alan Carr has submitted plans to transform derelict potting sheds at his Scottish estate into a community café and shop. The plans, lodged with the local council, aim to convert vacant buildings within the walled garden of 19th-century Ayton Castle into a public amenity.
The proposed café would include public toilets, staff welfare facilities, and storage. A heritage impact statement supporting the application notes a long-term commitment from Carr to repair and invest in the walled garden space. The statement also highlighted that the potting sheds had been sitting vacant and in a "severely derelict state," suggesting that their repurposing would be a "highly positive development" encouraging visitors.
Carr purchased Ayton Castle earlier this year. The estate is also slated to be the setting for a Disney television series focusing on his efforts to make the castle a functional home.
