Gordon Ramsay says rival sabotaged opening of his new restaurant

Gordon Ramsay believes a rival restaurateur sabotaged the opening night of his new London eatery Heddon Street Kitchen after 140 bookings were made but only 40 turned up.

The celebrity chef opened the restaurant in Mayfair last Saturday.

He said the 100 no shows was due to a "level of envy" on the restaurant scene and claims someone had "been on the computer" to make block bookings to ruin things, the Daily Telegraph reports.

Ramsay spoke on ITV1's Jonathan Ross Show and said that his staff would now be forced to reconfirm every booking from now on.

He refused to name the rival but said: "It's bad spirit and you see the staff and they are down and frustrated, I was there to pick them up and make sure we stay focused."

Gordon's website says Heddon Street Kitchen is "housed over two floors with a contemporary interior and a relaxed, modern European menu by head chef Maria Tampakis. From brisk brunches and post-shopping pit stops through to lunch, dinners and after work cocktails, plus a private dining room with full multimedia facilities."

Dishes at the restaurant include roasted wild duck, butternut squash, Brussels sprouts, chestnuts, mulled berry sauce; King crab thermidor, watercress and shallot salad; and poussin with chimichurri sauce.

Related articles

Gordon Ramsay loses Claridge's hotel restaurant contract

Beckhams go on Grand Canyon hike with Gordon Ramsay (video)

Gordon Ramsay to help British ex-pats with struggling restaurants in Spain