OURKITCHEN NIGHTMARE
Fears growing that superchef will now replace workers with his own team at swanky new eatery
DOZENS of kitchen workers have been left scrambling for jobs after Gordon Ramsay took over the lease at a landmark restaurant.
The superchef – who fronted hit show Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – is set to open his first Edinburgh restaurant after taking over premises occupied by trendy eatery The Refinery.
But about 30 staff working at the St Andrews Square venue are now hunting for jobs amid claims Ramsay’s team refused to take them on at the new Bread Street Kitchen and Bar.
The 54-year-old Scot’s camp denied the claims yesterday – saying it has launched a recruitment drive open to all candidates.
But workers claim bosses at the new Ramsay venture showed “no interest” in saving their jobs.
A source said: “It was a case of these guys are out and their guys are in, with a totally clean slate. There are 30 people facing being thrown on the scrapheap.
The landlord is acting perfectly legally, as is Mr Ramsay. But I just don’t think it’s very nice for people who have been through hell having recently been furloughed due to the pandemic.
“Staff are really worried and have been through hard times. You’d think Mr Ramsay would be more understanding of that.”
The Refinery, run by Drake & Morgan, is now in talks with businesses in an attempt to help staff find new work.
The restaurant opened in 2016 and has been a staple of the newly refurbished St Andrew’s
Square, offering stylish dining alongside venues like The Ivy.
The business confirmed last month it would be “forced to close” this Sunday after being served 30 days’ notice to vacate the premises by St Andrew Square SARL, adding it was “incredibly disappointed”.
Following lockdown, the firm entered into a Companies Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in June, where creditors agreed to a repayment plan allowing the firm to settle debts.
The landlord was listed as a creditor valued at £1.7million.
The Gordon Ramsay
Restaurant group said that Refinery staff would not automatically transfer to the new restaurant but added that it would now welcome applications from employees currently working on the site.
A spokeswoman said: “Gordon Ramsay Restaurants have entered into a new lease with the landlord following the termination of the previous tenants lease by the landlord, following a CVA.
“To clarify, there was no transfer of the business therefore staff cannot transfer automatically.
“We have now started actively recruiting for the restaurant in Edinburgh and welcome all applications from ex-employees of The Refinery.”
The 7000 sq ft Bread Street Kitchen, the third branch in the UK and first outside London, will fill the ground and first floors of the premises.
Andy Wenlock, chief executive at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, said the team had taken time to find “the perfect location”.
The Refinery said yesterday it was working hard to find new roles for all affected staff.
A spokeswoman said: “We are doing absolutely everything we can to support our team who are an incredibly talented bunch and are in conversations with various operators in the city.
“With the hospitality industry experiencing widespread staffing issues we are hopeful we will be able to place all our people in roles. It is our number one priority.”