OFFICIALS from a multinational catering giant didn't know where the sea was during a visit to the tearooms the company will take over this year.

As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, the lease for the Highcliffe Castle Tearooms will be taken over by prison food firm Aramark on April 1 - 17 years after local businessman Sean Kearney took on the business.

Mr Kearney, who had to forecast sales of cakes and cream teas for the next 15 years as part of his application to continue managing the popular eatery, said the move will hurt small businesses in Highcliffe.

He told the Echo: "They didn't even know where the sea was.

"They don't know about Highcliffe or the castle and I am worried that they won't support businesses here."

US company Aramark provides prison food and school meals.

It was awarded the lease after receiving a score of 99.58 against the council's application criteria.

Mr Kearney's bid was given a score of 59.06, and Judith Plumley, Christchurch council's head of community and leisure, said his "long-term vision" for the tearoom was "not clear".

Mary Reader, founder of the Christchurch Food Festival and the Highcliffe Revival Food Festival, said: "Sean has supported the council for many years.

"In my experience with the food festivals, multinational companies never really want to support local traders.

"The events were backed from the beginning by traders like Sean."

Mr Kearney, who also runs the successful Cliffhanger Cafe in Highcliffe, launched the Real Mr Selfridge Experience at the castle, which has since been visited by thousands of people.

"Had I been awarded the lease, there would have been many thousands more from cruise line and coach companies," he said.

Bournemouth councillor Mark Battistini, the owner and managing director of Caffe Saporito - a tearoom supplier - said many local businesses will be affected by the decision.

"The council should have more foresight than this," he said.

"A multinational company like this will use national suppliers."

He said an extra financial return to the council doesn't mean more money spent in the community.

"To get an extra £2,000, £3,000, £10,000, whatever it is, they are restricting the money that is being ploughed back into local businesses and therefore into Dorset," he said.

Ms Plumley said the council is in a "legal standstill period" and will announce the successful company formally on February 1.