The future of The Fat Duck and other restaurants founded by Heston Blumenthal is in doubt after HM Revenue & Customs issued a winding-up petition against the chef’s parent company.
HMRC has moved against SL6 Ltd, which owns The Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire, alongside the one-Michelin-starred The Hinds Head and several affiliated ventures. Around 130 staff are understood to be at risk should the petition proceed.
The action follows a further deterioration in the group’s finances. Accounts filed at Companies House show SL6 Ltd recorded a loss of £2.05m for the year to 2024, up from £1.39m the previous year, despite turnover of £8.9m.
Administrative expenses totalled £8.4m, including £2.3m in cost of sales, while staff costs rose to £4.07m, reflecting inflationary pressure and higher wage bills.
The company’s accounts reveal total debts of £2.7m, including £1.67m owed in taxation and social security and £5,417 in corporation tax. It also reported a bank overdraft of £806,091, more than the £697,605 held in cash, alongside several outstanding bank loans.
A strategic report signed by Ronald Lowenthal, who now controls SL6 Ltd after Blumenthal sold his stake in 2006, acknowledged a year of “tough economic conditions”, citing inflation across the supply chain, recruitment challenges and rising wage costs.
Lowenthal said the company had chosen not to pass the full burden of inflation on to customers, despite the impact on profitability. The Fat Duck’s signature 13-course tasting menu, “The Journey”, is currently priced at £350 per head.
Auditors Lawfords Consulting previously described the business as a “going concern”, noting management was seeking long-term funding to stabilise operations. However, HMRC’s decision to file a winding-up petition suggests negotiations may not have secured sufficient support.
A spokesperson for HMRC said it could not comment on individual cases but added that winding-up petitions are only filed after other recovery options have been exhausted.
The development comes at a difficult time for the UK hospitality sector, which has faced rising energy bills, food inflation and higher employment costs in recent years. Fine dining establishments have been particularly exposed to fluctuations in discretionary spending.
The timing is also notable given fresh political debate around the value of the hospitality sector. Comments this week from a senior government adviser suggesting Britain does not “need any more restaurants” have drawn criticism from industry figures already grappling with higher taxes and regulatory pressures.
Blumenthal, famed for inventive dishes such as snail porridge and “Sound of the Sea”, became one of Britain’s most recognisable chefs through The Fat Duck’s experimental cuisine and television appearances. The restaurant has long been regarded as a cornerstone of modern British gastronomy.
If the winding-up petition proceeds and the company cannot secure funding or reach a settlement with HMRC, the case could result in compulsory liquidation, placing one of Britain’s most celebrated culinary brands in jeopardy.
