Wright resigns on integrity call
Simon Wright is facing an uncertain future following his resignation as editor of the AA Restaurant Guide. Here, he explains why he quit. Louise Bozec reports.
Simon Wright has resigned as editor of the AA Restaurant Guide on a question of principle.
He is angry that Roger Wood, managing director of the AA - a man with no qualifications in assessing food - has gone against the wishes of the AA's restaurant inspectors.
He has done so by insisting that Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay's London restaurant, Pétrus, must not be awarded five rosettes in the forthcoming 2003 edition of the AA Restaurant Guide (Caterer, July 25, page 4).
Wright has not resigned on behalf of either Wareing or Pétrus. He has done so because he feels that Wood has undermined the integrity of the guide and its inspectors.
He said: "Chefs may not always like our decisions but at least we can say that they were made on a level playing field. I can't pretend that this is still the case. The AA can't rectify the situation by smoke and mirrors. It's a simple black-and-white issue about the integrity of the awards.
"Although we have a very different guide, the aim has been to establish the credibility to match and exceed what Michelin do. That's only possible with the highest standards of professionalism and integrity, and it's clear that this is just not understood at the top of the AA.
"They have a stark choice as to whether they want a serious, credible restaurant guide, based on the findings of trained inspectors, or a joke of a guide based on the whims of senior executives."
He described Wood's behaviour as "reckless" and said his actions were "an insult to the inspectors".
Wareing said: "If the guide does not want to give me my five rosettes, then I don't want to be in it because it is a farce.
"Wood's job is to make sure the company makes money and goes in the right direction. What has he got to do with deciding whether I get five rosettes?"
He said that both he and Ramsay were "deeply disappointed and incredibly shocked" by what had happened.
Asked what he felt about Wright's resignation, he added: "I have a huge amount of admiration for him. It shows he is a true inspector and he lives 100% for what he believes in."
Wood was unavailable for comment.
