Gordon Ramsay puts ‘unsustainable’ Maze Melbourne into liquidation
The decision comes just over a year after Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) launched Maze and Maze Grill at the Crown Entertainment Complex in Melbourne.
Following the departure of Ramsay’s business partner Chris Hutcheson in October 2010, the company has been undertaking a strategic review of its operations in the UK and abroad.
Although the group announced a pre-tax profit in the year to 31 August 2010 of £2m, the group has focused on ‘consolidating and strengthening’ its assets to continue its growth.
So far the review has seen the sale of Mayfair restaurant Murano to head chef Angela Hartnett, the disposal of pubs The Warrington (to Faucet Inn) and The Devonshire (to Nick Gibson), and Sloane Street, which sold earlier this year.
Maze ‘unsustainable’
A spokesperson for GRH said the decision to liquidate Maze and Maze Grill Melbourne was not an indication of the group’s overall performance.
“We can confirm that we have put Maze and Maze Grill into liquidation.
“Since the recent change in management at GRH, we have been conducting business reviews of all of our group operations both here and abroad and unfortunately it concluded that the business was not sustainable.
“It is no secret that the industry as a whole has been affected by the economic downturn and GRH has been consolidating and strengthening viable operations to help take the business to the next level.
“The successful re-opening of the Savoy Grill at the end of last year and the soon-to-be opened Bread Street Kitchen in St Paul’s, in September is testament to the groups confidence in the future.”
GRH still operates three Maze outlets in Doha (Qatar), New York and London. It closed its outlets in Prague and Cape Town in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
