Politics
‘Devastated’ Gordon Ramsay reveals he’s lost £55m during Covid crisis after opening three restaurants last year
GORDON Ramsay lost £55m during the coronavirus pandemic as his 35 restaurants nationwide leaked cash.
The TV chef and restaurateur saw the hospitality industry plunged into turmoil thanks to lockdowns one, two and three.
Gordon Ramsay has lost £55m during the Covid crisis[/caption]
“In December we had £10m worth of reservations wiped out overnight,” he exclusively tells The Sun from his London home over Zoom.
“As of 19th March to 3rd February this year we’ve suffered £57.5million worth of turnover down.
“I’m in it.”
Gordon currently has 18 restaurants across London, with five more due to open once normality returns, as well as a further 17 worldwide.
Gordon’s Heddon Street Kitchen restaurant just of Regent’s Street in London[/caption]
“Lockdowns have caused utter devastation,” he said.
“Having been through so much with the 2008 financial crash, then terrorist attacks and 9/11, when Covid first hit, we all thought it would be over and done with in a couple of weeks.
“But it’s been long-haul.”
He was forced to take up the government’s furlough scheme in a bid to save hundreds of jobs nationwide.
Gordon’s restaurant The Narrow in trendy Limehouse, London opened its doors for take-away burgers and drinks last summer[/caption]
“It’s been so hard to keep youngsters motivated, and I do feel under pressure to give my younger members of staff, especially, some hope, and the sense that we can get out of this,” he said.
“There have been so many tears, people at their wits’ end.”
Despite using the furlough scheme, he has still taken a colossal hit on his own bank balance after opening three new restaurants last year.
He has taken a big hit financially over the last year[/caption]
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“Since 1998, when I started, I have always put my money back into the business,” he said.
“I’ve never been greedy, I’ve always been very, very generous.
“I get criticised for being wealthy, but the responsibility on my shoulders – the livelihoods at stake – is huge.
“I feel that pressure enormously, and the impact of all this has been devastating and incredibly costly.”
Bank Balance starts Wednesday night on BBC One at 9pm
