Latest news with #Upmarket
Metro
8 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Gino D'Acampo's restaurant empire 'owed seven-figure sum' before near-closure
Gino D'Acampo's restaurant chain was saved from the brink of collapse after falling into £7million worth of debt. The scandal-ridden TV chef was booted from ITV programming earlier this year after a series of allegations of sexually inappropriate and bullying behaviour from dozens over his career. It's not the only crisis the former presenter, who has firmly denied all allegations, has had to navigate with his culinary empire was almost forced to shut down due to amassing an eye-watering amount of debt. D'Acampo owns restaurants across London, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester, totalling 11 locations, an Italian ingredients supplier Bonta Italia Ltd, as well as a line of Asda ready meals. The financial woes, however, became apparent last year when he was unable to pay his staff at his My Pasta Bar chain thanks to the business stacking up £5m worth of losses. It has now come to light that the controlling company Upmarket Leisure – of which the 48-year-old TV personality owns 10% – owed £5.3m to HMRC and almost £2m to creditors ahead of its near-closure. This included food suppliers who were owed almost £500,000, a wine dealer due £302,000 and a pasta company waiting for a £4,809 payment. The statement of affairs, publicly released on June 5, also outlined that Upmarket only had£117,000 in cash at the bank and £320,000 in other assets to cover the debt. In May, the chain was saved when Upmarket was bought out of administration in a whopping £5m deal which secured the jobs of all 400 staff members. It also ensured the payment of £4.2m to two major creditors. At the time, Dean Watson, an administrator Begbies Traynor, said: 'This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again. Meanwhile, D'Acampo is gearing up for an imminent TV comeback since his slew of travel and food shows, as well as his regular spot on This Morning, were stopped. He recently appeared on the radio where he made a series of innuendo-filled, sexually-charged comments towards the female presenter. Earlier this year, he also shared photos of himself on the set of a new project, both in front and behind the camera, with the promise of an upcoming release date. Meanwhile, Gino's official website promises great things ahead, including his career as a restaurateur. More Trending 'Gino is also one of the UK's most successful restaurateurs, with his restaurant empire growing by the day. Gino currently has 7 restaurants across the UK, plus has recently partnered with the global hotel giants to open restaurants both in the UK and overseas. 'Malta is the next international site to open in June 2025, in the 5* ME HOTEL, Mercury Towers,' the site reads. View More » Stars such as John Barrowman and Keith Lemon's Leigh Francis have shown their support for the controversial presenter. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Eye-watering sum scandal-hit Gino D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed when it plunged into administration revealed
GINO D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed £7million when it plunged into administration, The Sun can reveal. Advertisement Controlling company Among them were food suppliers owed almost £500,000, a wine dealer due £302,000 and a pasta company expecting £4,809. A statement of affairs shows Upmarket only has £117,000 in cash at the bank and £320,000 in other assets to try to cover its debts. It lists Advertisement Read More on TV HMRC had issued a petition to wind up Upmarket at the High Court and administrators were appointed after a previous sale fell through. Staff were warned about a delay in wages being paid. But the jobs of all 400 employees were saved when the company was bought out in May. Last year, the Italian was unable to pay staff and the taxman after his My Pasta Bar chain wound up with around £5million losses. Advertisement Most read in News TV It comes after ITV has vowed to stop using him. Gino D'Acampo makes string of smutty remarks during radio interview as he returns to public eye following ITV axe 1 Gino D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed £7million when it plunged into administration, The Sun can reveal Credit: Rex
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Eye-watering sum scandal-hit Gino D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed when it plunged into administration revealed
It comes after D'Acampo was accused of years of sexually inappropriate behaviour, which he denies NO DOUGH, GINO Eye-watering sum scandal-hit Gino D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed when it plunged into administration revealed Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GINO D'Acampo's restaurant empire owed £7million when it plunged into administration, The Sun can reveal. The scandal-hit TV chef's chain of eateries was saved from the brink of closure last month in a £5million buyout. Controlling company Upmarket Leisure owed £5.3million to HMRC and almost £2million to creditors. Among them were food suppliers owed almost £500,000, a wine dealer due £302,000 and a pasta company expecting £4,809. A statement of affairs shows Upmarket only has £117,000 in cash at the bank and £320,000 in other assets to try to cover its debts. It lists D'Acampo, 48, as a ten per cent shareholder of the business, which ran five venues across London, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester. HMRC had issued a petition to wind up Upmarket at the High Court and administrators were appointed after a previous sale fell through. Staff were warned about a delay in wages being paid. But the jobs of all 400 employees were saved when the company was bought out in May. Last year, the Italian was unable to pay staff and the taxman after his My Pasta Bar chain wound up with around £5million losses. It comes after D'Acampo was accused of years of sexually inappropriate behaviour, which he denies. ITV has vowed to stop using him. Gino D'Acampo makes string of smutty remarks during radio interview as he returns to public eye following ITV axe
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
TV star's last surviving restaurants saved from permanent closure after sacking scandal
SCANDAL-hit TV chef Gino D'Acampo's restaurant chain has been saved from the brink of closure. Upmarket Leisure Ltd, the firm controlling the former This Morning star's five venues, has been struggling with spiralling debts. Advertisement 7 Gino's name remains on five restaurants operated by Upmarket Leisure Ltd Credit: Rex Features 7 The Manchester-based firm applied to appoint an administrator Credit: Alamy 7 Upmarket Leisure Ltd was bought out of administration in a £5 million deal Credit: Rex 7 Luciano by Gino D'Acampo restaurant in London's Strand Credit: Paul Edwards A sale fell through and the HMRC issued a petition to wind up Upmarket at the High Court in March. An application to appoint an administrator was made on Tuesday. Upmarket has now been bought out of administration in a £5million deal. It secures the jobs of all 400 employees at the restaurants in London, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. Advertisement Dean Watson, at administrator Begbies Traynor, said yesterday: 'This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again.' In February Gino, 48, was accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour over 12 years, which he denies. ITV has vowed not to use him in future. The most recent Upmarket accounts, for the year to March 2023, had showed losses went up by almost £1million from £559,000 to £1.475million. Advertisement It owed creditors £5.8million at that time. Restaurant staff were due to be paid a week ago but were warned of a delay. Gino D'Acampo drew explicit picture of me during live filming of cooking show - culture was toxic, what TV producer told ITV One told The Sun: 'A lot of people are very angry and a few have resigned. Every day we're told we'll be paid tomorrow.' Some have now received payment. Advertisement Upmarket apologised, blaming administrative banking issues on being unable to process payroll. It comes after Gino, 48, posted videos on Instagram last week of himself embracing workers and diners at his restaurants across Britain. He wrote: 'Just finished my Restaurants Tour all over the UK @ginomyrestaurant & @lucianobyginodacampo. You guys make it all worth it. GDx.' Last year, the Italian was unable to pay staff and the taxman after his My Pasta Bar chain wound up with around £5 million losses. Advertisement Previous accounts showed it owed £4.8 million to trade creditors, £113,975 to HMRC and £53,304 to staff after being liquidated in 2022. Meanwhile, just days ago the TV presenter was seen in public for the first time since his ITV sacking. The star broke cover after laying low amid claims of inappropriate behaviour were lodged against him. Gino, who has been spending time in his native Italy since the scandal broke in February, was spotted getting into a taxi on a Hertfordshire high street. Advertisement He kept a low-profile as he made his way into the waiting car in a now rare public sighting. Earlier this year, an ITV investigation found there were multiple claims of "unacceptable," "distressing" and "horrendous" treatment while working with the TV star over more than 12 years. Gino told ITV News he "firmly denied" all the allegations, which he called "deeply upsetting". ITV axed re-runs of his shows amid the 'unacceptable, distressing and horrendous' allegations of disgusting sexual jibes to female colleagues over 12 years. Advertisement It emerged that one female telly producer claimed to ITV that Gino drew an explicit picture of her during live filming. It has also been alleged that Gino kissed a footballer's wife in front of her husband, before telling charity gala guests he did it "because I can". Gino has "firmly denied" all the allegations against him and In a lengthy statement issued at the time of them coming to light, he said: "I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago. "I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. Advertisement "This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me." Representatives for Gino were approached for comment. 7 Gino shared a clip of himself listening to music following the accusations 7 Gino outside ITV Studios in 2018 Credit: Alamy Advertisement
The Sun
01-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
TV star's last surviving restaurants saved from permanent closure after sacking scandal
SCANDAL-hit TV chef Gino D'Acampo's restaurant chain has been saved from the brink of closure. Upmarket Leisure Ltd, the firm controlling the former This Morning star's five venues, has been struggling with spiralling debts. 7 7 7 7 A sale fell through and the HMRC issued a petition to wind up Upmarket at the High Court in March. An application to appoint an administrator was made on Tuesday. Upmarket has now been bought out of administration in a £5million deal. It secures the jobs of all 400 employees at the restaurants in London Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester. Dean Watson, at administrator Begbies Traynor, said yesterday: 'This very well-recognised group of restaurants will be able to continue, under their existing brand, and has the opportunity to thrive again.' In February Gino, 48, was accused of sexually inappropriate behaviour over 12 years, which he denies. ITV has vowed not to use him in future. The most recent Upmarket accounts, for the year to March 2023, had showed losses went up by almost £1million from £559,000 to £1.475million. It owed creditors £5.8million at that time. Restaurant staff were due to be paid a week ago but were warned of a delay. Gino D'Acampo drew explicit picture of me during live filming of cooking show - culture was toxic, what TV producer told ITV One told The Sun: 'A lot of people are very angry and a few have resigned. Every day we're told we'll be paid tomorrow.' Some have now received payment. Upmarket apologised, blaming administrative banking issues on being unable to process payroll. It comes after Gino, 48, posted videos on Instagram last week of himself embracing workers and diners at his restaurants across Britain. He wrote: 'Just finished my Restaurants Tour all over the UK @ginomyrestaurant & @lucianobyginodacampo. You guys make it all worth it. GDx.' Last year, the Italian was unable to pay staff and the taxman after his My Pasta Bar chain wound up with around £5 million losses. Previous accounts showed it owed £4.8 million to trade creditors, £113,975 to HMRC and £53,304 to staff after being liquidated in 2022. Meanwhile, just days ago the TV presenter was seen in public for the first time since his ITV sacking. The star broke cover after laying low amid claims of inappropriate behaviour were lodged against him. Gino, who has been spending time in his native Italy since the scandal broke in February, was spotted getting into a taxi on a Hertfordshire high street. He kept a low-profile as he made his way into the waiting car in a now rare public sighting. Earlier this year, an ITV investigation found there were multiple claims of "unacceptable," "distressing" and "horrendous" treatment while working with the TV star over more than 12 years. Gino told ITV News he "firmly denied" all the allegations, which he called "deeply upsetting". ITV axed re-runs of his shows amid the 'unacceptable, distressing and horrendous' allegations of disgusting sexual jibes to female colleagues over 12 years. It emerged that one female telly producer claimed to ITV that Gino drew an explicit picture of her during live filming. It has also been alleged that Gino kissed a footballer's wife in front of her husband, before telling charity gala guests he did it "because I can". Gino has "firmly denied" all the allegations against him and In a lengthy statement. Representatives for Gino were approached for comment. Gino's response in full In a statement to ITV News, Gino D'Acampo said: 'I have been told by ITN news that allegations have been made about me acting inappropriately, some dating back over ten years ago. "I have never been made aware of these matters previously and the allegations are firmly denied. I would not do anything that I thought would upset or distress anyone. "This is simply not in my nature. I do not recognise the version of events being put to me. "Not only have these allegations never been raised with me before, I have been repeatedly supported by executives at the highest level and was commissioned on prime-time programmes during the period in which it is now suggested I was acting inappropriately. "I am a father, husband and have worked with well over 1,500 people on around 80 productions in my career, which I have been so proud of. "I take such matters extremely seriously and the suggestion that I have acted in an improper way against is deeply upsetting." 7 7 7
