Giles Coren (pictured) has sparked outrage by describing locals in Devon as ‘tattooed fatties’
A food critic has sparked outrage in a seaside town after describing locals as ‘tattooed fatties’.
Giles Coren visited Mothecombe Beach, near Plymouth, Devon, with celebrity friend Sue Perkins to review a new eatery.
Mr Coren, 48, had holidayed at the formerly private beach for the last five years but complained after it was opened to the public.
He awarded the Schoolhouse Cafe a rave review but then ripped into the local people enjoying the picturesque surrounding area.
In a scathing tirade Mr Coren poured scorn on ‘the general public’ enjoying a day out in the sunshine.
He ranted about ‘tattooed fatties day-tripping from Plymouth’ who were enjoying the beach below.
He wrote: ‘The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. And whether he giveth and taketh in exactly the way that you were hoping for is not up to you.
‘Only recently, for example, he tooketh away the beautiful private beach in Devon where I have holidayed for the past five Julys and gavethed it to the general public.
Picturesque: Mothecombe Beach, near Plymouth, Devon. Food critic Giles Coren has sparked fury by calling locals ‘tattooed fatties’
‘And I was gutted, because I now have to share the beach with a load of tattooed fatties day-tripping from Plymouth, with their barbecues and their loud music and their pikey tents and windbreaks and their swearing and their topless sunbathing and their rank, loutish littering.
‘But on the plus side, he gavethed me in return a restaurant at the top of the hill overlooking that beach.’
But residents of Plymouth responded to Mr Coren’s ‘snobby’ remarks.
Mr Coren was reviewing the Schoolhouse Cafe (pictured) but caused outrage when he insulted locals
Some even called him a ‘grockle’ – a term for a holidaymaker visiting Devon or Cornwall.
Ben Mayne wrote: ‘Should read white middle class London elitist is offended to share Devon beach with working class people.’
And self-confessed ‘fatty’, Amanda Atkinson, wrote: ‘I’m a fatty. I have tattoos, I am proud of being Plymouth born & bred. But I have respect for others. I have taught my son the same.
‘If snobby arrogant grockles want to come and enjoy the beauty down this way then they have to make do with what is around them.
‘Everywhere you go there are tattooed fatties like me. But do you hear us complaining of the overpayed snobbs (sic) like him ???’