Bad weekend for celebrity chefs

Celebrity chefs Antony Worrall Thompson and Jean Christophe Novelli have become the latest victims of the recession after it emerged they have been forced to close their respective businesses.

Antony Worrall Thompson has shut four restaurants as his company AWT Restaurants Ltd went into administration last week.

Worrall Thompson attended the restaurants and informed the 60 employees that they were to be made redundant, according to reports in the weekend papers.

In a statement released to the press on Sunday, the TV-chef said: "The decision to go into administration has not been taken lightly. Even though November and December sales were down on the previous year, five of the seven businesses were profitable. However, the first quarter of the year is always a hard one in the hospitality business and additional funding was required to ease our continuing cash flow issues."

He continued by criticising the banks lack of support: "Our request for funds has not been supported…it makes me cry. It is just appalling. I am furious, to be honest, that the banks didn't support me."

In another blow to the hospitality industry, Jean Christophe Novelli has placed two pubs into administration.

The News of the World reported that the 'A Touch of Novelli' pubs struggled to cope during the economic downturn.

There were plans for Novelli to open 10 more sites throughout the home counties but operating company Sweet Medicine ran into difficulties after a falling out with investors.

Words: Clare Riley

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