EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The staggering amount of debt Gino D'Campo's restaurant empire racked up before going into administration in wake of lewd behaviour claims

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Gino D'Campo's restaurant empire racked up debts of £7.3million before going into administration, MailOnline can reveal.
The scandal-hit chef, 48, has seen his TV career implode following allegations of lewd and inappropriate behaviour on set, sparking job offers drying up with ITV - who once considered the Italian one of the broadcaster's most popular faces.
And his restaurant group Upmarket Leisure, which had five restaurants bearing the star's name in London, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester and Newcastle, has also hit hard times after going into administration in May.
HMRC had sought to wind up the firm over the huge tax debt, but accountants negotiated a deal for the chain to be bought out for around £5 million.
Two major creditors were paid a total of £4.2 million, which meant the restaurant could be sold and continue to run as a business meaning 400 employees' jobs were safe.
But it also meant taxpayers HMRC and some big creditors, who supplied food and wine to eateries, were left out of pocket.
An insider told Mailonline: 'It's a real mess and nobody has come out of this well.
'Gino was confident his business would get through this difficult period but like so many people in the hospitality business, it's been an incredibly tough time.
'His TV career bombing at the same time obviously hasn't helped.'
One wine dealer Boutinot, is owed £302,000, food supplier Brake Brothers is down £460,000, LWC Drinks loses £280,000.
But there are scores of other creditors owed significant amounts including Boulangerie de Paris, based in Uxbridge, who are owed £12,000, La Tua Pasta of London, owed £4,800 and Underwood Meat Company, also based in Uxbridge, owed £104,000.
HMRC will get some money back, but administrators would only say 'there may be' funds 'for a distribution'.
Gino, 48, has laid low after claims of inappropriate behaviour were lodged against him.
He is reported to have been spending time in his native Italy and in Hertfordshire away from the limelight.
His wife Jessica, the mother of his three kids, has stuck by the chef amid the controversy.
The insider added: 'Gino is just getting his head down and removing himself from the limelight for now.
'He knows his fanbase is still strong, he's just biding his time.
'There are no indications he's willing to give up his TV career for good, particularly as he believes he's done nothing too untoward.'
Earlier this year, an ITV investigation found there were multiple claims of 'unacceptable,' 'distressing' and 'horrendous' treatment while working with Gino over more than 12 years.
It was also claimed ITV ignored complaints over the star's 'inappropriate' towards his colleagues, which included 'vile' and 'sexist' comments made towards Holly Willoughby in 2018.
He told ITV News he 'firmly denied' all the allegations, which he called 'deeply upsetting'.
ITV