Heston Blumenthal calls for action over Companies House fraud
Chef Heston Blumenthal has called for greater urgency in protecting restaurants from fraud after it was revealed fake companies have been registered in the names of existing businesses.
A spate of listings have appeared on the Companies House register with names that are designed to appear the same as well-known restaurants.
Many of the companies set up use the same correspondence address as the genuine business, causing restaurant operators to fear that fraudulent activity may be credited to them.
Blumenthal's business was one of those targeted, with a company set up under the name ‘Dinner By Heston Blumenthall', adding an extra 'l' to his surname. The listing on Companies House has the same address as his Dinner by Heston restaurant at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel in Knightsbridge.
Blumenthal has written to Louise Smyth, chief executive of Companies House and registrar for England and Wales, asking for greater transparency on how the issue is being tackled.
The chef, whose restaurants also include the three-Michelin-Starred Fat Duck and the Michelin-starred Hind's Head in Bray, Berkshire, said: "The process for removing fake companies has to be sped up and made easier. We need greater transparency from Companies House and a clear timeline. In some cases, it is being reported it can take up to 18 months to rectify.
"Checks by Companies House on the identity of people registering companies would reduce the risk of frauds and be a major help for restaurants and other businesses facing up to problems with fraudsters.
"The protection of our brands is absolutely paramount to our customers, our partners and our teams who excel every day in our kitchens and restaurants. We will not allow fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting patrons or partners and risk the legacy which we have collectively built with hard work, dedication, innovation and a grain of eccentricity."
Companies House has launched an investigation after it was claimed 750 fake firms had been registered in the six weeks to 9 February 2024. It said it would have greater powers to query and remove fraudulent information from the register from spring.
Operators told The Caterer similar listings had been made masquerading as their businesses.
These include a listing for ‘Elystan Street Limited' providing the same correspondence address as Rebecca Mascarenhas and Phil Howard's Michelin-starred Elystan Street restaurant in London. Also targeted were Arabica London owner James Walters and chef Chantelle Nicholson, who is behind the Apricity restaurant in Mayfair.
A Companies House spokesperson had earlier said: "From this spring, we will have greater powers to query and remove fraudulent information from the companies register and will prioritise cases where addresses have been used without consent.
"We plan to do more checks – including on company names – to determine the accuracy of information which is delivered before it is placed on the register.
"In the longer term we will be requiring company directors and people who file information to verify their identity to ensure they are who they say they are.
"These changes will enable us to crack down on the use of false addresses and other misuse of the register."
