Rick Stein recounts being ‘knocked out cold’ by a customer

Celebrity chef Rick Stein has shockingly disclosed that he was once “knocked out cold” by an irate customer during his days running a nightclub.

In an episode of Rick Stein’s Cornwall, which is available on iPlayer, the culinary star reminisces about his early ventures in Padstow over half a century ago.

“Forgive me, I’d like to take you on a trip down memory lane to where it all began over 50 years ago in Padstow,” Rick mused. He revisited the site of his first business venture with his best mate, Johnny Walter.

“I always loved music. In fact, I played bass guitar in a band at school, like so many people did. But then, at university, I ran a disco called Purple Tiger,” he shared.

Rick and his friend eventually settled on a quayside building for their disco, which they named The Great Western. However, owning a nightclub wasn’t without its wild west moments.

“We opened up with a disco, full of excitement, full of anticipation. We had lots of fishermen that came in, and lots of people that really weren’t used to clubs and club hours and drinking till 1 o’clock in the morning,” Rick recounted.

“So, there were a lot of fights. I mean, a lot of fights. I sort of took it to try and sort these problems out myself,” reports .

One particular incident left a lasting impression when Rick attempted to confront a jouster: “I remember once we had a load of jousters down in the area, and I tried to punch a jouster. He knocked me out cold.”

This tumultuous period ultimately led to local magistrates in Bodmin refusing to renew his drinks licence, deeming him unfit to hold one.

Elsewhere in the episode, Rick took on the wild Atlantic waters to learn about the ancient fishing method of handlining at Sennen Cove off Land’s End.

He then used the catch of the day – some delicious pollock – to prepare the ultimate fish pie for John Harris, the head gardener of Tresillian House.

Rick Stein’s Cornwall airs on Two and iPlayer