M1NT is undeterred by Gordon Ramsay

Published: 23 July, 2008

Club M1NT will reopen in September in new Mayfair premises following the recent, controversial repossession of its old site in a Gordon Ramsay Holdings' building in Sloane Street, London.

Alistair Paton, CEO and founder of the high-profile club, claimed M1NT withheld rent payments to Gordon Ramsay Holdings after enduring months of 'disgraceful working conditions and unacceptable treatment'. Paton told Harpers: 'Pengelley's [Gordon Ramsay's joint venture with Ian Pengelley] was in the same building as us and after it closed in December 2005, Gordon Ramsay Holding's was determined to get us out. It gave us no heating, hot water or air conditioning. The barmen were forced to work with cold drinks and ice in freezing temperatures and some even developed a form of frostbite. We were treated very badly by the Gordon Ramsay Group and it turned all the services back on before we'd even finished clearing the building.'

Paton confirmed that the club's members and shareholders continue to support the venture and he remains positive about M1NT's future.

A spokesperson for Gordon Ramsay Holdings declined to respond to the allegations and said: 'On 9 July an "affected peaceable re-entry" took place at M1NT, located in the basement of 164 Sloane Street, as a result of rent and services arrears.'

A new Gordon Ramsay Holdings' restaurant opened on the site last week. La Noisette is headed up by Bjorn van der Horst, who left The Green House as head chef in January 2006.

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