GRAHAM HISCOTT

BATTERED Heston’s empire Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s business empire dived nearly £1million into the red last year. Accounts for SL6 Ltd, the holding company for his various businesses, saw turnover edge up to £12.7million in the 12 months to May 28, 2017, but it swung from a £469,490 profit to a £973,858 loss. In Companies House documents, SL6 listed global economic uncertainty, staff wage rises and supplier cost rises as factors that could dent profits going forward. SL6 controls 13 companies, including Blumenthal’s Michelin-starred Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire. Blumenthal no longer technically owns any the offshoots, having sold his stake to Ronnie Lowenthal, his father’s stepbrother, in 2008. The owner of restaurant chains Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia saw losses widen last year amid tough trading in the eating-out market. The Casual Dining Group, which also runs La Tasca and Belgo, posted a £60million loss for the year to May 2017, 18% worse than 2016. It blamed a “difficult trading environment” and “challenging conditions”. Rivals Byron, Prezzo and Jamie’s Italian are preparing for a wave of branch closures.