A Masterchef contestant who built a restaurant in a hut in her back garden may have to pull it down after failing to get planning permission . Kathryn Minchew , who was a semi-finalist on the BBC show , set up a restaurant in a Finnish summer house in her back garden - but it has now got her in hot water with the local council . Now Mrs Minchew , who was a contestant on the show in 2008 , may have to pull down the 'food hut ' she opened at her home in Gloucester , because she did not secure planning permission . Scroll down for video . Masterchef semi-finalist Kathryn Minchew ( pictured ) may have to pull down the ‘ food hut ’ she opened in the back garden of her home in Gloucester because she did not secure planning permission . She opened her tiny 'Gloucester Studio ' eaterie last November and it has proved popular with locals because of its intimate atmosphere . The restaurant features just two tables and opens for exclusive bookings and special events only . Built around a single hexagonal table it seats just six diners , who all sit across from each other on wooden benches that are covered in reindeer hide . A summer house was already in the garden when Mrs Minchew and her husband James moved in - but she did not realise she had to apply for planning permission to use it as a restaurant . But Gloucester City Council officials visited the restaurant and told her she must apply for if she has any hope of keeping it . Mrs Minchew opened her tiny 'Gloucester Studio ' eaterie last November and it has proved popular with locals . The restaurant features just two tables and only opens for exclusive bookings and special events . 'When I first looked into building my studio , my builders and I believed that planning permission was not necessary , ' she said . 'It was only at the end of the year that someone from Gloucester City Council contacted me . ' I immediately invited him to visit and he is satisfied about the business activity but he felt that contrary to my research , planning permission was needed . ' I do n't think you can really take something like that personally and everyone I have been in contact with has been lovely . ' Mrs Minchew 's creation was inspired by a trip to Barcelona , where she visited a restaurant set in an apartment in the city . The restaurant was inspired by a trip to Barcelona , where Mrs Minchew visited a restaurant in an apartment . Mrs Minchew said her neighbours have so far been 'very enthusiastic ' about the restaurant in her garden . She currently takes two bookings a month in her restaurant , set in a Finnish Kota hut , and said neighbours have so far been 'very enthusiastic ' about the project . She added : ' I think what makes Gloucester Studio popular is that my customers get to enjoy an evening out that has all the benefits of a night in with friends but with someone else cooking , serving and washing up . While the menu constantly changes , a sample three-course menu , set at £35 per person , looks like : . A mug of mead to start . Butternut squash and Chinese mushroom soup with aubergine crisps . Beef bourguignon served with fire-baked potatoes and petits pois a la Francaise . Brandied fruits of the forest with brown sugar ice cream . Coffee . ' I 've had lovely compliments about the food but what people seem to really love is how personal everything is . 'If any of the local residents have any objection to it they certainly have n't made comment to me . The neighbours I have directly spoken to were interested and enthusiastic . ' Mrs Minchew made it to the penultimate round of Masterchef in 2008 but said she never had a desire to work 'in someone else 's restaurant ' . Martin Shields , Gloucester City Council 's corporate director of services and neighbourhoods , said residents have until March 26 to give their comments on the hut . He said : 'We 've written to residents in the area and invited them to send us their comments . 'If anyone else would like to give us their comments please visit gloucester.gov.uk and choose planning then search for 15/00288/FUL . ' Mrs Minchew currently takes two bookings a month in her restaurant which is set in a Finnish Kota hut .
Mrs Minchew was a semi - finalist on the annual amateur cooking contest . She opened a restaurant in a Finnish manor house in her back yard . It has just two restaurants and opens for exclusive bookings and special events . Mrs Minchew says neighbours have been ' very enthusiastic ' about project . But she may have to pull it down after failing to get planning permission .