Gordon Ramsay restaurants top £100m in UK sales but stay in the red

Gordon Ramsay’s UK restaurant empire has topped £100m in sales for the first time, driven by a cluster of high-rise openings in the City of London, although the business is still running at a loss.

Accounts for the celebrity chef’s UK division show revenues rose by 3% to £100.7m in 2025. The company managed to narrow its operating losses to £5.8m, down from more than £7m the previous year, as it continues to claw its way back from post-pandemic struggles.

The star of the portfolio was 22 Bishopsgate, the City’s second-tallest skyscraper, where Ramsay now operates five separate venues. These include the Asian-fusion restaurant Lucky Cat and Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, which became the group's 100th global site when it opened in May 2026.

Andy Wenlock, chief executive of Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, said the business had entered 2026 with "strong momentum and clear priorities" to improve earnings and manage costs, despite a tough global economy. He noted that trading had also been helped by the release of the Netflix documentary Being Gordon Ramsay in February.

On a global scale, the business looks healthier. The wider international parent group, which merged Ramsay's UK and US operations in partnership with the private equity firm Lion Capital, saw revenues climb to £151.8m, with underlying profits rising 12% to £14.4m. Despite the rising sales, the company did not pay out a dividend to its shareholders.

Inquest into death of Hell's Kitchen chef

Separately, an inquest in London has heard details surrounding the death of Christopher Wheeler, a prominent chef who worked with Ramsay on the TV show Hell's Kitchen in 2005.

Wheeler, 52, was found dead by groundskeepers in Brompton Cemetery, Kensington, on 27 February 2026, two days after his wife reported him missing.

The Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard that Wheeler, who was the executive chef at the prestigious Hurlingham Club, had a history of mental health struggles. CCTV footage showed him entering the cemetery alone, and police ruled out any third-party involvement.

An assistant coroner recorded an open conclusion, noting that while Wheeler had taken a cocktail of drugs and the cause of death was asphyxiation, he had left no note indicating an intention to self-harm.

In a statement read to the court, Wheeler's family described him as an "exceptionally talented chef" and a "true gentleman" who prioritised his family despite the long and demanding hours of his profession. He is survived by his wife Simona and their two daughters.