Kitchen nightmare for Ramsay restaurants

Defunct Melbourne-based restaurants Maze and Maze Grill belonging to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay have been accused of trading whilst insolvent, according to a Fairfax report.

A six-year investigation by liquidator PCI Partners found “books and records revealed the company was insolvent from at least August 31, 2010,” less than five months after the Crown Casino Metropol venues launched.

The article alleges the venues were trading insolvent for nearly a year, racking up debts within months of opening. They closed in 2011.

The Supreme Court of Victoria has approved a deal for unsecured creditors to receive about 58 cents from each dollar owed by Ramsay under the deal struck by the liquidator. Former staff have received their full entitlements.

The Kitchen Nightmares host will make a guest appearance on MasterChef this season, which he also hosts in the US.