Mat Follas to name new site The Wild Garlic at the Talbot Inn

Mat Follas's new pub/restaurant venture is to be named The Wild Garlic at the Talbot Inn.

It emerged yesterday that the former MasterChef winner had struck a deal to run the Hall and Woodhouse pub, the Talbot Inn in Iwerne Minster in north Dorset.

The deal will see Follas and his business move around 30 miles from the Wild Garlic's current site in Beaminster, which will close in May.

Follas admitted that trading in Beaminster has been tough and in part blamed the long-running closure of the Beaminster tunnel, as a result of landslips last year, for reducing the flow of customers.

"The rent here is not great - we are paying for a large building that the restaurant cannot really support and we have struggled for the last year with the tunnel closure which has blocked the main road through Beaminster," Follas said.

"The reopening is slipping. It looks like we are going to lose the summer if we were to stay here and if that happened I would be bust next winter. I am not going to wait for the council to make their decision."

Fortunately Hall and Woodhouse approached Follas to work with him through his accountant, and the new site will allow him to broaden the appeal of his business.

The Wild Garlic at the Talbot Inn has five rooms, as opposed to just one at the Wild Garlic in Beaminster. The new site will also run a more casual, seven-day bar and grill operation designed to appeal more to families.

Follas will continue to offer a fine dining experience for three days a week, but only when he is cooking. His foraging courses, which are sold out for this year, will also continue.

MasterChef winner Mat Follas to move Wild Garlic to Hall and Woodhouse pub >>