Claridge's extends Gordon Ramsay restaurant contract by 12 months

Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) is to continue to operate its restaurant at Claridge's but the hotel's owner, the Maybourne Hotel Group, has extended the contract by only 12 months.

The celebrity chef, who has run the former Michelin-starred restaurant at the five-star Mayfair hotel since 2001, was widely tipped not to have the 10-year lease renewed, after Maybourne closed his previous restaurants at the Connaught and the Berkeley.

However, the luxury hotel group has now agreed to extend the contract until 2012.

"While the GRH contract was due for renewal this year, it has been agreed to extend it into 2012," said a spokeswoman for Maybourne.

GRH's latest accounts revealed that Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's saw a 6.3% decline in footfall in the year to 31 August 2010. The restaurant, which was previously run by Mark Sargeant, lost its Michelin star in 2009 after seven years.

GRH previously operated four restaurants at Maybourne's London hotels, including Angela Hartnett at the Connaught and Pétrus and Boxwood Café at the Berkeley. None of the restaurants' contracts were renewed upon expiry and are now occupied by Hélène Darroze; Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffmann respectively.

Earlier this year, the Maybourne Hotel Group underwent a takeover bid by the Barclay Brothers, who wanted to increase their stake in the company, which owns Claridge's, the Connaught and the Berkeley.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings returns to profit >>

Barclay Brothers to increase stake in Maybourne Hotel Group >>

Mark Sargeant leaves Gordon Ramsay Holdings >>

Gordon Ramsay's Boxwood Café to close >>

Marcus Wareing leaves Ramsay to work directly with the Berkeley >>

Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett say goodbye to the Connaught >>

By Kerstin Kühn

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