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.
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.
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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.
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".
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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."
