Gordon Ramsay makes ghost-writing machine claim over York & Albany lease

15 April 2013
Gordon Ramsay makes ghost-writing machine claim over York & Albany lease

Gordon Ramsay has claimed that a ghost-writing machine must have been used to sign his name on documents making him the personal guarantor for the £640,000-a-year rent on the York & Albany pub in London.

The details, which emerged in a High Court claim, once again highlighted the fraught relationship between Ramsay and his father-in-law and former chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH), Chris Hutcheson.

Ramsay claimed the machine must have been used to sign his name without his knowledge or authorisation, as part of a 2007 property deal for a 25-year lease on the York & Albany in Regent's Park.

However, the owner of the pub, film director Gary Love, called the claim an "absurd" attempt to wriggle out of rental commitments, according to http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ramsay-family-feud-explodes-again-with-chefs-claim-that-ghost-writer-signed-rent-guarantee-8572541.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">The Independent.


Hutcheson was dismissed from GRH in October 2010 for an alleged financial impropriety, but settled out of court with son-in-law Ramsay after agreeing to what is believed to have been a £2m pay-out.

Philip Cohen, from solicitors Jeffrey, Green and Russell, who is representing Love, said: "What he is alleging is most unlikely and extremely serious but he hasn't involved the police, which is what one would expect when crimes are committed."

GRH declined to comment. Chris Hutcheson was unavailable for comment.

High Court dismisses Chris Hutcheson's petition to wind up Gordon Ramsay Holdings >>

The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking