A smoking BBQ in Ramsay’s kitchen? Nightmare!
HE’S not shy in pointing out the shortcomings of others on his TV shows. But Gordon Ramsay is having to deal with his own kitchen nightmare after one of his restaurants caused a major health scare.
Two people, believed to be staff members, at the chef’s London House brasserie had to be treated for suspected carbon monoxide poisoning and adjoining flats were evacuated after someone made the elementary mistake of moving a smouldering barbecue indoors. Two fire engines and an ambulance were called to the scene, in Battersea, South-West London, after an alarm went off.
One neighbour said: ‘We were woken up about 3am and told to leave the building. Apparently some idiot took a barbecue indoors. The coals were still smouldering and the ventilation had been turned off. We were lucky it was not more serious.’
London Fire Brigade confirmed that its crews had removed an industrial barbecue from inside the property.
Gordon Ramsay Restaurants said: ‘London House was closed and empty, the general manager was following the normal procedure of locking up the restaurant when an alarm activated.
‘An evacuation took place as a precaution. We always put the safety of our guests and our neighbours as our top priority.’
Last night, public health expert Dr Deborah Turbitt warned of the dangers posed by burning charcoal.
‘It is extremely dangerous to have a lit or smouldering barbecue indoors or in an enclosed space. This is because barbecues emit carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that you can’t taste, smell or see.’
Council officials are investigating the incident.