Hundreds of customers are owed nearly £40,000 after a Glynn Purnell restaurant closed down.
The Michelin starred chef said he was "heartbroken" after taking the decision to close his eatery in Birmingham after 17 years due to increased costs and wages and the knock on effect of the Covid pandemic. However, as reported by Birmingham Live, the decision to close has left 246 customers fighting to retrieve some of the money they paid for vouchers they never got to use to eat at the restaurant.
Corporate recovery firm Butcher Woods outlines in a Statement Of Affairs that 246 'consumer creditors' who had bought vouchers and put down deposits with the top-rated restaurant. The total amount owed is £39,375. After learning about the closure via the media families who bought vouchers for Purnell's said they were 'disappointed' in the chef for making the decision, despite having hundreds of pounds worth of unspent vouchers.
As well as the vouchers and deposits, the liquidation document for Ginger Boy Ltd, which traded as Purnell's Restaurant, shows how much is owed to restaurant staff in wages and holiday pay. Among them is Glynn Purnell himself, who the document shows is owed £30,766.21 in total.
Mr Purnell is also listed on the statement as a company creditor alongside suppliers to the tune of £60,610.75. Other creditors on the list include pest control, wine and ingredients firms and a company that supplies fine truffles. According to the Statement of Affairs, the company hired 20 staff including the director and their wages and outstanding holiday pay is listed as a preferential claim in the liquidation. The secondary preferential creditor is HMRC, which is owed an estimated £51,086.
One voucher holder has shown Birmingham Live correspondence from Butcher Woods advising 'it is unlikely you will receive any funds from the liquidation', referring them back to their bank to attempt to obtain a refund, though it is not guaranteed they will receive one. One customer has since also said that they've been advised by their bank it is 'unlikely' they will get any cash back for the loss. Others are awaiting word following attempts to recoup the money.
The failure of Purnell's was attributed to 'the knock-on effect of the Covid-19 pandemic' and 'an increase in all business costs', the document states. In total, the company's deficiency as per the estimated statement of affairs is £431,871.
Mr Purnell's statement in full reads: "I have been very grateful for the support in the unfortunate and unforeseen closure of the restaurant after 17 years. The closure is now in the hands of the liquidators which are Woods and Butchers and all queries regarding voucher refunds must legally be addressed to them.
"We have been advised that refunds can also be requested via customers own banks and credit card companies. I can only apologise for this difficult situation."
Customers have also said they feel they have been 'treated dreadfully' by the BBC Saturday Kitchen star chef. Among them was Therese Roberts, who bought £250 vouchers for each of her two children.
She said: "My view is he has no respect for his loyal clients. We have dined at Purnell's a few times, Plates by Purnell's, and what was Ginger's Bistro. To just close the doors without warning, and to not give information to clients or honour the voucher at another of his restaurants is not acceptable.
"My children put trust in Purnell's by purchasing this voucher for their father. For Glynn Purnell not to honour his side of the agreement is shameful. I too work in the catering industry and run my own catering business, and would certainly not treat our clients in this manner, how Glynn can just carry on cooking regardless is unbelievable."
Ben Price, who was gifted a voucher for his birthday, added: "As a fellow Brummie I had always followed and tried to support Glynn's ventures where possible, having been to The Mount and to his Bistro before it closed. He's definitely fallen in my estimation as a result of the way that this has been handled and communicated. £250 is a lot of money, especially in the current climate, so to leave loyal customers out of pocket while he continues with other ventures is a bit galling." The Mirror has contacted Purnell's restaurant for comment.
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