Kerridge left steaming as 27 diners dodge reopening

TOM Kerridge was left furious after 27 ‘selfish’ customers failed to honour their reservations at his restaurant when it reopened following lockdown.

The celebrity chef warned that the actions of those who did not show up at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill in London on Saturday could put jobs at risk.

It comes as many restaurants battle for survival after months of being shut because of the coronavirus crisis.

Kerridge posted a stern message on

Instagram yesterday, writing: ‘To the 27 people that booked and then failed to turn up on a Saturday night – this industry, like many others, is on the verge of collapse. Your behaviour is disgraceful, short-sighted and down right unhelpful. All of you “no shows” in all restaurants up and down the country are adding to the issues already being faced. You are putting people’s jobs more at risk.’

The Michelin-starred chef added: ‘You are the worst kind of guest and that is selfish. I hope you have [a] good look at yourselves.’ He opened the restaurant two

years ago in the Corinthia Hotel near Trafalgar Square. Fellow Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth, of Core in Notting Hill, backed Kerridge.

She said: ‘Well said Tom. Staff don’t work for free because the guests don’t turn up. Ingredients are prepared and wasted. It is incredibly disrespectful.’

Gusto, an Italian chain with 18 branches across the North, Midlands and Scotland, said it lost £20,000 in the first four days of reopening because 800 people who had made reservations did not turn up.