London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 31, 2026

Restaurant in Hampshire 'forced to move' in doughnuts row

Restaurant in Hampshire 'forced to move' in doughnuts row

A vegan restaurant owner faces having to relocate after the landowner objected to him selling doughnuts.

Peter Axworthy has run the restaurant on the Sunnyfields Farm site for three years

Peter Axworthy began selling the treats in January when his Offbeet restaurant in Totton, Hampshire, had to switch to takeaway-only due to the lockdown.

He said he was left "speechless" when the owner of the farm site objected to their sugar content.

Landowner Barker Mill Estates said the doughnuts contravened its "health and wellbeing" values.

Mr Axworthy said he was now looking for an alternative venue for the restaurant and accompanying cookery school.

The restaurant had sold a range of savoury and sweet vegan food on the site of the Sunnyfields organic farm for three years.

When lockdown forced a switch to takeaway, Mr Axworthy added doughnuts to his range of cakes and biscuits.

The speciality doughnuts - promoted on the restaurant's Facebook page - included rocky road, lemon drizzle and tiramisu varieties, as well as gluten-free versions.

Despite their popularity, he said he was contacted by the landowner to say they gave out the wrong health message.

After refusing to provide a sugar analysis of the doughnuts, he said he was given six months' notice to vacate.

Customers have been queuing for their takeaway doughnuts
Mr Axworthy said: "We were getting to a point where people were queuing for up to an hour before we opened.

"They [Barker Mill Estates] were really unhappy with us selling doughnuts due to the high level of sugar in them which they said was directly linked to obesity.

"We were speechless, because we sell other sugary things - we've sold cakes for three years. The farm shop sells chocolate, cake and ice cream alongside the organic vegetables - we're the same as the farm shop, it's just about variety."

A statement from Longdown Management Limited said: "Whilst we recognise the doughnuts Offbeet sells are a luxury treat, the way they have been marketed in recent weeks goes against our core values around health and wellbeing."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
London Science Museum Ends Long-Running BP Sponsorship
Scottish Homeowners Prepare Valuation Challenges Over Proposed Mansion Tax
UK Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Undercover Police in Spycops Scandal
James Cleverly Leaves Shadow Cabinet to Run for London Mayor
Avanti West Coast Drivers Agree 3.6% Pay Rise, Averting Strike Action
Allianz Explores £5 Billion Takeover of British Roadside Assistance Group AA
UK Government Retreats From Plan to Unfreeze Personal Income Tax Threshold
Northern Ireland Leaders Press UK Government for Sustainable Funding Settlement
UK Health Agency Warns Nationwide Salmonella Outbreak Could Worsen
NHS Warns Autism and ADHD Assessment Costs Have Become Unsustainable
UK Rejects Moratorium on AI Data Centres Despite Energy and Water Concerns
Thames Water Creditors Offer Government Golden Share in £10 Billion Rescue Plan
UK Warns Defence Executives of Russian Assassination and Sabotage Threats
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.75% Amid Inflation Risks
UK Restricts Early Prison Release for Serious Offenders as Jails Near Capacity
Genetic Study Finds Medieval Britain’s ‘Conquest Man’ Had Scandinavian Origins
Kemi Badenoch Plans Conservative Frontbench Reshuffle After Cleverly Departure
Nissan Sunderland Plant Highlighted as Key Economic Anchor for North East England
UK Arts Report Finds Women Face Persistent Barriers to Career Progression
Private Equity Consolidation of UK Veterinary Practices Raises Consumer Cost Concerns
South West Water Ranked Worst in England for Environmental Performance
British Train Drivers Secure 3.6% Pay Rise, Averting Strike Threat
UK Prosecutors Consider Charges Against Officers in Undercover Policing Scandal
James Cleverly Leaves Conservative Shadow Cabinet to Run for London Mayor
Allianz Explores £5 Billion Takeover of British Roadside Assistance Group AA
Bank of England Holds Interest Rate at 3.7% as Growth Stalls and Inflation Eases
UK Government Announces Electricity VAT Cut and £2 Bus Fare Cap
UK Officials Highlight 80 Years of Diplomatic Relations With Philippines
Heavy Rain Disrupts Parts of England After Weeks of Extreme Summer Heat
More Than 200 Extra Police Officers Deployed Across Cleveland After Violent Incidents
Burnham Meets Northern Ireland Leaders for Talks on Economy and Youth Employment
Burnham to Abstain From UK Assisted Dying Vote
NHS Leaders Warn of Severe Financial and Staffing Pressures Ahead of Autumn
UK Treasury Prepares October Budget as Defense and Public Spending Pressures Mount
Scottish Government Publishes Draft Bill for Second Independence Referendum
Royal Navy Tracks Russian Warships and Sanctioned Vessels in 72-Hour Operation
UK and Ukraine Agree AI-Focused Defense Technology Partnership
US Reportedly Weighs Falkland Islands Policy Shift to Pressure UK Over NATO Spending
UK Government Mobilizes Emergency Aid as British Nationals Remain Missing After Nepal Floods
UK Hospitality Industry Reports Stronger Summer Trading but Seeks Tax Relief
Reform UK Proposes £30 Tax Credit for Long HMRC Helpline Waits
Labour Debates Caps on Political Donations Ahead of Future Elections
England Accelerates Housing and Planning Reforms Amid Affordability Crisis
NHS Expands Walk-In Community Health Centers to 40 Locations
UK Regulators Expect Meta to Apply Stronger Child Safety Standards Globally
UK Groups Demand Faster Transport Decarbonization After Extreme Summer Weather
UK Launches 10,000 Work Experience Placements as Youth Unemployment Concerns Rise
UK Government Faces Difficult Autumn Budget Choices Over Defense, Spending and Taxes
UK Government Rejects Calls to Slow AI Data Center Expansion
IMF Raises UK Growth Forecast to 1% Despite Global Supply Chain Risks
×