Did anyone see the Walnut Tree episode? The owner was as bullheaded as it gets. He should own up to his responsibilities. As for Mr. Ramsay, there is never an occasion where tirades and swearing is necessary. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to know how to be ab effective leader without the abuse. There are educational resources available. If he learned a new, non-offensive style, things would turn around for him.

By J Fairweather.. Posted July 17 2010 at 1:25 AM.

Running a restaurant is hard graft. I've done it all over the world and it's not the dream ticket many people think. You have to be prepared to hit the markets at 5am and work til after midnight. Many of these owners just didnt have the heart or know how. It's ignorance to blame Gordon, most of them would have closed anyway, perhaps he saved some, which is better than none. Many were sold, and we do not know if they owners ended up making out of it by selling restaurants on the back of Gordon's name. For the most part, when people fail at something they rarely look at themselves but seek to blame others, I'm sure most of these people would have gone under in days had Gordon not stepped in, and after he left they still were too inept to pick up where he had left off. So it's easier to point the finger at C4 and blame Gordon rather than look in the mirror and admit they were out of their depth from the beginning.

The reality is the man's a genius within his field and they are lucky to get his advice, but some are too hard headed and im sure revert back to old ways once the cameras are switched off.

By Redrat.. Posted July 10 2010 at 9:48 PM.

I love watching this program and what happens to the restaurants after Ramsey leaves. The most interesting part of the article is the section on Morgans and how Laura Kelly blames the closure on Ramsey. Yet in an article by Adrian Butler in the Liverpool Echo on February 9, 2007, the following is quoted:

"But owner Sandra Morgan today said business was still good, but she was exhausted after three years in the catering industry and wanted to put her feet up.
She has advertised the restaurant on website www.businssesforsale.com.
Meanwhile daughter Laura Kelly, who also runs the restaurant, wants to go to drama school.
Sandra said: "We are testing the market. I’m in a rush to sell. At the moment we’re frantic and I’m working so hard. My partner had got a place in Spain and I just need a holiday."


How things have changed.

By USA.. Posted June 29 2010 at 9:57 PM.

Piccolo Teatro was never Gordon Ramsay's fault. That 'woman' couldn't be arsed to pull her finger out her arse and lost a good chef her job.

By Ross Manby.. Posted June 19 2010 at 3:18 PM.

Oh, please. Every one of those owners talked openly on camera of already being on the verge of bankruptcy. Alan Tate's house was already on the market when Ramsay showed up. And Sue Ray was "400,000" in debt just "one month after the show." She didn't have that debt build in one month. These people KNOW how the show works. They're all about to close when he arrives. So, whatever. They suck at their business and blames it on Gordon Ramsay? They ought to just suck it up and admit it is their OWN fault, not Gordon Ramsay's, that they can't run the business.

By Andie.. Posted June 12 2010 at 2:40 AM.

I have watched every episode of this programe. I cannot see for the life of me how Gordon is responsible. Owners and clientele are the ones to blame. If customers weren't so against any kind of change, they would have kept up their patronage of what what obviously a change for the better. Also clearly some owners did not keep to the standards set and then looked for a scapegoat. Gordon went to these places to try to help for which gratitude should be shown. We are talking about a man who has several restaurants with 3 Michelin stars and he knows how to cook and run a business. He tried to help these idiots and cannot be blamed for the failures. Had he not gone in, they were all finished anyway.

By steve levine.. Posted May 11 2010 at 8:52 PM.

I've watched EVERY single Kitchen Nightmares show. The problem is NOT Gordon Ramsay - it's the stupid owners & chefs of the restaurants. THEY DON'T LISTEN! So no matter what Gordon puts in place - these morons will mess it up or undo it once he leaves... the fact that they couldn't get it right BEFORE he arrived to save the day --- is proof that they don't have what it takes --- despite the massive and wonderful attempts by Gordon to help them out. They are mostly incapable of doing things right... with or without Ramsay. So don't blame Ramsay - he's the best thing that happened to them... but once he leaves, they get up to their old tricks again.

By Juls.. Posted April 28 2010 at 1:21 PM.

My Background:
I Worked for a small company in DC that owned 12 restaurants (Got to work with 2 awesome chefs who groomed me into a descent chef and instilled passion for food in me). I moved out of the area and found a job in a well known restaurant chain. Ive recently been out of work due to a knee surgery and have had plenty of time to watch Lots of Kitchen Nightmares. I agree with all above posts. I hated Ramsey on Hells Kitchen, but after watching alot of Nightmares I think he's great. Its given me a renewed love for the food, that Ive lost somewhere along the corporate pre-packaged ladder. To all the owners and chefs that dont have a clue or any business being in the industry I say BYE BYE. He's not a miracle worker, but is very inspirational. I have a new attitude from just watching this show, and for anyone who actually had the priviledge of having him scream at them and didnt get anything from it I say GO AWAY YOUR WHATS WRONG WITH THE INDUSTRY.

By John.. Posted April 20 2010 at 12:25 AM.

What can you do in a weeks time to survive?

Be smart an d suck-up as much as possible from GR. Gordon is not God but his advice is good, nothing wrong with that.

What I see is that owners, chefs are falling into their bad old habbits which are mostly the cause of their faillure.

Most failing were not honnest from the beginning and now that they blame GR says more about themselves than GR.

My conclusion is that the food industry is better off with them bankrupt. Who wants to eat from a disgusting kitchen anyway? An other thing I learned is if you have to wait too long for your service you can question what is arriving on your plate.

By Snowball.. Posted March 22 2010 at 8:34 AM.

It's absurd to think that something that would premier on television, which is watched by hundreds of thousands of individuals, would make them NOT want to eat at these places. It would actually have the opposite effect because many people would want to see the transformation that had taken place themselves.

While I agree that Chef Ramsay cannot fix every single problem that there is it has to be understood that there are millions of successful restaurants around the world, and every individual that opens and runs their own restaurant has the capability of being able to do it successfully. To place the blame is cowardly.

Lastly, many of the above establishments may have closed for reasons other than lack of business.

"A bright yellow "seized'' sign slapped onto the door of Trobiano's in Great Neck pronounces the place closed due to non-payment of New York State taxes."

Other owners received offers to purchase the restaurant, and maybe they just did not want to continue operation. The economy has also taken a huge hit these last couple of years and has definitely affected the way businesses operate. Previously successful restauranteurs have had to close their doors because of the state of the economy. Blaming Chef Ramsay for all of these problems is simply preposterous. These people need to start taking responsibility for their own actions, and stop trying to make themselves feel empowered by blaming failure on someone else.

By Kris.. Posted March 22 2010 at 12:15 AM.

How could you say anything wrong about Mr.Ramsay, he could only do his best with the know it all's that think they could run a restaurant.

By Karen.. Posted March 19 2010 at 12:44 PM.

There's not much to add to the comments already posted!

I too feel that it is a miracle that Gordon was able to save as many as these about-to-fail establishments as he did. The ones that succeeded will be the ones whose owners truly "got it" instead of saying all the right things then going back to the same old crap.

It is amazing how clueless many of the owners are about the business in which they have invested their life savings.

By OhioGuy.. Posted March 14 2010 at 2:13 PM.

To think that blowing into town to set up a 30 min TV show is going to save a failing restaurant is ridiculous. What Ramsay offers is usually sound advice, but many of these restaurants have deep seated issues from finances, menus, chefs, to location and, well, damn near everything!

Just like the article says, when Ramsay leaves there is nothing to keep restaurants from going back to their old ways. He knows how to run a restaurant, but he may not know how to run THEIR restaurant -- and neither do the people running the restaurant or they would NOT need someone to come in and help in the first place!

If he saves one restaurant, frankly he's hero and don't tell me he ruined your restaurant, because you wouldn't want him if you weren't desperate!

By ArmyGuy.. Posted March 6 2010 at 9:04 PM.

I watch your show all the time and interested in learning some of your recieps and one day meet you.

By enrique perez delaluz.. Posted February 13 2010 at 3:24 AM.

They have aired the one for Bonaparte's several nights this week and to say for this eatery (as well as some of the others) That GR 'ruined' them is ludicrous. The owner of Bonaparte's had no idea what was going on in her kitchen and had two cooks with no knowledge of the basics. Whose fault was that? It you take away all the banter, all the other aspects, what GR brings to them is a business plan above all. Basics, basics, basics and most of these places have not got a clue. Only a very few of them are even being run by restaurateurs in the first place. They get air time, they get advice but if they did not know what to do in the first place, any amount of advice will not make up for poor management skills, poor concept and poor staffing. If they are out then perhaps they were never meant to be in that business in the first place. No, I'm sorry, GR brings them solid information and it is information that is good and basic for all types of businesses, not just restaurants.

By John Guerra.. Posted January 31 2010 at 12:53 PM.

Are you kidding me!

These restaurants were ALL on the verge of closing before Gordon Ramsay ever got near them! They admitted themselves that they had no customers and were desparate before he walked in the door.

The fact they now blame Ramsay is a perfect example of why they were going under in the first place...looking elsewhere to fix blame, and forgetting to look in the mirror and face reality.

What a bunch of hogwash from these failed owners.

By rightwingrick.. Posted January 14 2010 at 6:11 PM.

I was judgmental initially when I realized that most of the restaurants failed even after the make over.
I then began to read the reviews of the restaurant on the next episode and learned its fate before seeing the show.

I see two major reasons for failure that seems consistent across nearly every episode.

Owners that were either apathetic or were too incompetent to manage their own businesses how ever well intentions they might have resulted in the dear in the headlights paralysis which made them appear apathetic.

When the reality hit them that they could no longer tread water they grasp at Ramsay as a life preserver out of sheer desperation. His televised consultancy is a reality check where he gives the businesses the opportunity and tools to attempt a turn around. Decor and a new menu are ingredients that must be combined with efficient management of a dedicated staff and even if all 4 of those elements are present there is just no guarantee ... For a business with a crushing debt in this soft economy where they have to recover from their negative reputation success is extremely questionable.
Another poster suggested the businesses might want to change their name for their re launch... I think this combined with shamelessly marketing their business by trading on Chef Ramsay's reputation and the show is a marketing tool that seems under utilized... One of the failed restaurants put a sign up in the restaurant a week before the airing of their epesode exemplifying the owners lack of promotional skills missing a golden opportunity to gain market share.

By Ken_Memphis.. Posted October 16 2009 at 9:45 AM.

I think that most of these restaurants are past the point of no return by the time Ramsey visits them and no matter how they turn business around it won't do any good. The owners are in too much debt to make staying in business worthwhile even if they begin to make some money. It's too little too late. If he had gotten there sooner they might have had a better chance.

Plus it looks to me like some of the owners give up because they realize that they don't have what it takes to sustain the changes Ramsey makes over the long haul. It would mean too much work and supervision to accomplish and in most cases they just don't have the skill or motivation to do that.

Plus I don't think the changes are radical enough in many cases. Psychologically people aren't willing to change their feelings about a place that was a loser for so long even if it changes for the better. I think people are harder on such a place because of previous bad experiences with it or bad publicity. It would actually be better if they reopened like a brand new restaurant with new concept, name and complete interior renovation.

By Ronnie.. Posted October 14 2009 at 7:28 AM.

Of the episodes I've seen, both UK and US, there is a point in the middle of each episode when the kitchen is hopping with life. They are happy to be there, creating good quality food and doing what they love, feeding people (and making money.)

That point comes in each episode because of Gordon Ramsay. He is the salt and savor of a situation that a week earlier had been dying in its bad habits. But then he leaves.

This Spring, I had the cleanest kitchen you ever saw. I was also obsessively watching 2 and 3 Kitchen Nightmares a day. But I had to quit watching for a bit and get back to my life. Guess how my kitchen looks now? I wouldn't want Ramsay popping his head round the corner.

I've recently put Ramsay back into my Netflix queue. If anything, let these shows be a lesson that you have to continually surround yourself with people you respect and want to emulate to achieve your goals in any walk of life.

~ Jawja in California

By Georgia Choate.. Posted October 9 2009 at 11:57 PM.

these people were already in hot water. The statistics on restaurant success are pretty bad anyway. The majority of these people were terrible business owners and didn't have a clue about what they were doing and really needed to go to business college before attempting to open a restaurant. Honestly, if they had gone to school and come out with a degree in business, they would been smart enought not to have picked to run a restaurant in the first place. These folks didn't even really seem to care and let the businesses get so far in the hole before contacting Gordon it really didn't make a difference how much they did to correct what was wrong. The owners overall were an arrogant and uninformed bunch. If there stuff was so great, they wouldn't have needed to call Gordon in the first place. It was always ridiculous watching them defend a dirty establishment or why they were cooking someone else's food in a microwave and passing it off as their own. And what about the nut with the boxed mashed potato's. People need to take responsibility for their own problems especially when they are the creation of their own hell. Truly pathetic indeed!!!!

By Oh well.. Posted September 23 2009 at 12:13 AM.

The resturants were already in the dumps. One, Financialy. Two, some of the resturants that were on their needed to get cleaned or they would have gotten a lawsuit cause someone was going to get sick. now adays everyone is looking for a way to make a quick buck. Third, If people wanted to help you save your resturant they would have been their. I wish I was able to help cause I wanted to taste his receipes. They need to stop looking for someone to blame for them being bad businesses...in short they waited too long to try and fix the problem....Some of the people that worked their would have been gone if it was someone else running the business.

By Robert.. Posted August 31 2009 at 9:42 PM.

It's not surprising about Peter's closing. With a brute like Peter working there, people were probably too scared to eat there.

The old saying goes: you get out what you put in.

Gordon gave them the tools to show them how to put more in to their restaurant to get them up and running. It is up to the owners to decide to continue with his teachings to make a success. Maybe for most of them it was too much a responsibility and too much trouble. Not knowing that they need to be 100% involved with their businesses 100% of the time. Instead they really entirely on the manager.

If you have a good staff, then a lot of the weight is lifted off. If you have a lousy staff, your business ends up in the toilet if you are not there to kick butt.

By Denise.. Posted August 17 2009 at 2:00 PM.

'Scott Aitchison of THE PRIORY in Haywards Heath, East Sussex, said: "Trade's been slower. Gordon upset the customer base, calling them the 'blue rinse brigade'."'

What Aitchison never understood that his regular customer base, who were paying five pounds a piece (after two-for-one coupons) were not making him any money. Yes, they represented the majority of the money coming in, but that wasn't enough per person to keep him money. They weren't helping his business. He didn't need additional customers; he needed different customers.

By George P. Burdell.. Posted August 9 2009 at 2:41 AM.

Well I am in the US and watch the Kitchen Nightmares religiously. I know each episode and I have followed up on each restaurant. Each and every restaurants owner did not want to do what Gordon wanted. Then when he left they fell apart...well heck, if you don't want to do what the man says and still have the same crap in your kitchen I wonder why you're not going to excel in this world!!! He revisits each and every one and 9 out of 10 are still doing what they want to do! Sorry..you failed because you failed..don't blame the man who has one restaurant after another succeeding!! Get over it! You were screwing up when he came, old habits die hard!!

By Donna McGuinness.. Posted July 31 2009 at 4:36 AM.

Sue Ray of Bonaparte's might have ben good at selling insulation and donkey rides but as a restaurateur she didn't have the first thin clue what she was doing.

She tried to run a fine dining establishment in the basement of a busy and noisy bar, she allowed the kitchen to become a revolting disease infested morass that turned out crap food, hiring Tim was a very stupid thing to do because he obviously didn't have any real credentials or formal education in what he was doing (he couldn't even make an omelet).

She has allot of nerve to cry about how the show ruined her business and destroyed her financial life when she knew full well that the place was a shambles long before she tried to get help.

It was her fault the place eventually went down in flames because the owner/manager is the one who is responsible for making the important decisions regarding the operation of the business and she made all the wrong ones.

By Robert Johnson.. Posted July 29 2009 at 5:09 AM.

The fact that these ineptly staffed, incompetently managed houses of slop survive even a few months after his visits is a credit to Ramsay. A perfect example is the Fenwick Arms... Run by Brian Fey, a mentally-challenged little man who cannot cook, cannot manage his finances, cannot greet customers, and based on his multitude of useless e-bay purchases, should not even be trusted with an internet connection, had no chance in hell without Ramsay's marketing campaign and reorganization. When Gordon arrived, they had almost no customer base to speak of, and the only common characteristic of the garbage they served was that it was all equally inedible. Gordon got the little moron out of the kitchen, got him out of the restaurant, and sent him home. Had there been even one functional braincell in Brian's head, he'd have taken the opportunity to have some time off. But as soon as Gordon left, the little imbecile went back into the kitchen to resume the pathological destruction of his own business. And then, after Gordon leaves, the twerp actually has the balls to blame Ramsay. What a sham. If the owners of these garbage bins had any talent, brains, ambition or accountability, they'd never need a troubleshooter like Ramsay to splash them with cold water in the first place. When they end up failing anyway, they just continued doing what they've always done to land themlselves in the hole--they make excuses and point fingers.

By Alex.. Posted July 25 2009 at 11:52 PM.

I think the only thing missing from the concept of the show is the hiring on of one new competent person, a manager, a chef (an owner? ha).
THese places are already going out of business, handing them a completely new business plan, in a week, does not change the individuals. Most of us do not change. Period.
I would like to see a similar concept with business in general, but not completely failing ones, ones that want to go to the next step maybe.. successful in their own small pond, wanting to break out.
More likely to succeed i think.

One thing the whole world lacks is people who speak things they way they are. At least that is what is portrayed through the show, who cares what the man is really like, the show illustrates that we need more people, politicians especially who see things straight.

Folks.. government is NOT the answer to our problems. We must whittle Gov't down to size and Ramsey up on ourselves if we want to make our countries better.

Government is the lousy owner without a clue who stands for nothing and mopes.

VOTE OUT ALL POLITICIANS.

Vote in more Ramsey's!

By Kent J.. Posted July 25 2009 at 2:49 AM.

I have watched GR steele his knife (sharpen it for those who dont know what this means) and he is completelly crap at it.He should get lessons from a butcher.

By Johhny P.. Posted July 8 2009 at 1:49 PM.

Most of these places had several of following things in common:

Incompotentce in the kitchen
Lazy owners
Stupid management decisions
unwillingness to actually try new concepts and ideas,

Bonaparte's went down because Sue Ray was too stupid to realize that she had no clue about what she was doing, this fact was made very clear in the fact she hired Tim as a head chef when he clearly wasn't capable of running a kitchen at Burger King.

The Priory went under because of Scott's foolish desire to keep what is essentially an extinct concept (the buffet restaurant) because the old duffers who lived in the area didn't want to try something new because it would mean actually having to go out and order one thing the is done properly over having a choice of many things that are pretty much mediocre.

All of the places in both series were already in serious trouble financially when they signed up to be on TV, the owners had to have some understanding having their dirty little secrets exposed on national TV could possibly damage their businesses to the point of finally dying because of being shown as lazy fools who ran filthy restaurant establishments that served crappy food.

By Jack.. Posted July 7 2009 at 5:30 AM.

I don't see how Gordon can be blamed at all. He gave them the materials, advice, and attutudes to get them back on track. The restaraunts failed because they didn't continue to listen to him. They fell back into their old ways and as a result went down the toilet. Also, he's a chef, NOT A MIRACLE WORKER. The restaraunts that begged and pleaded to go on the show now know that it isn't about getting lots of customers and living happily ever after. FYI, you actually have to work to see a glimpse of success. Sorry to tell you. :P

By Catherine.. Posted June 29 2009 at 6:57 PM.

Based on the criteria for going on the show, 100% of these restaurants were failing without Chef Ramsay's intervention. Now 66% of them have failed. That doesn't sound like a failure on his part. It would have been magical if every restaurant was able to be saved, but I think harboring that hope would be a misstep.

Now, I don't know what the producers of the show told the owners of each restaurant. If they were told that Chef Ramsay was guaranteed to save their establishment, then they were mislead and they have a genuine right to complain. But I have to say that any restaurant owner should understand that one man cannot possibly make every restaurant he steps into a gold mine. Its just common sense.

The burden of fault must fall to the owners, but I understand that when your livelihood disappears there is a natural tendency to want to blame somebody else for the tragedy. I feel for them and hope they can come back from the hardship.

By Ben.. Posted June 1 2009 at 4:28 PM.

How many people out there are harboring a fantasy of opening either a B and B or a restaurant? How many of those people are actually equipped to open a B and B or a restaurant? Gordon is not a miracle worker. He comes in, tells them the plain truth, and hopes they learn. Obviously, only a third of them do.

By Julia.. Posted May 7 2009 at 12:02 AM.

i have been in business for 25 years, and i know if you are lazy and produce crap, then even with gordon helping you will just go back to the same ways.

some of these places were a million in debt, not paying their rent and admitted that they were only weeks from closure, so its gordons fautl that they closed 6 months later

i had a food place when younger, and i became lazy and it lost money, even in our current businesses, when the boss, gets lazy the trade dropps off and you loose money, its not easy keeping that motivation up that you need to keep a restaurant going, you cant take your eye of the ball for a second

and if you are depressed under lots of preasure, its almost impossible to keep yourself from letting it go.

a failing business that is weeks away from bancrupcy, will probably end up going the road it was heading, unless you can put 200% in all the time.

p.s cool man G.R.

By Philip Mc Donald.. Posted May 2 2009 at 6:36 PM.

Anyone with any common sense can see that the owners themselves are to blame. They were already failing. Ramsay is only there for a week or probably even less - you can bet that after he leaves they go back to their old ways. Old habits die hard as they say.

By Sue.. Posted April 19 2009 at 12:54 AM.

I like Chef Ramsey's show and I would appreciate just the chance to meet him! I believe he did help all those restaurants and none of them cared to succeed after! The show did put them on the map and the television for the world to see the true inside of what we're eating! All those owners expected him to change their style, yet not one of them learned from their mistakes and took responsiblity. They are still serving within unclean kitchens, utensils, and frozen or old foods. Nobody in their right mind would want to eat with a pig! I give Chef Ramsey credit for his effort of succeeded in those places. Half those owners who are blaming Chef Ramsey for their losses or debts - deserve what they got! Everone has problems and it's not right to blame others for your OWN mistakes!

By Rachael Fremling.. Posted April 15 2009 at 7:48 PM.

I have to disagree with the poster below saying that he can dish out the criticism but not take it... he worked for Marco Pier White for two and a half years, I'm pretty sure that means he can take it. What's more you don't become a chef of his callibre without failing an awful lot first, its like a stand-up comedy routine you have to refine your art and get booed offstage until you find what works for you and the audience.

As to the fact that most restaurants have failed, this is an incredibly tough business to make work for the long-term. This strikes me a lazy statistics rather than telling you anything meaningful. There can be any number of reasons why people give up, number one being that the stress of running a restaurant proves too much (Gordon has never claimed in any of the episodes I have seen that he is offering an easy way to success - he often makes it clear that you have to live and breath the business to make it work and I would imagine many people just run out of steam).

By Rob.. Posted April 9 2009 at 12:21 PM.

The catering business usually attrracts two types, the highly trained artistic genius and the lazy `couldn`t get a job anywhere else` type. These people are all the latter who managed, god knows how to get themselves into the position of acually running these restaurants.

I totally agree with 90% of the comments made in this blog, they were going down and nothing was going to save them. Lack of culinary skills, lack of business acumen and lack of fighting spirit. All the owners bar two or three had the above traits.

By ipd.. Posted April 5 2009 at 12:48 AM.

He could do no wrong! The golden boy!In true British media tradition he has been built up.Guess what?He is now getting knocked down.

By BUILDUPKNOCKDOWN.. Posted April 4 2009 at 9:50 PM.

As a professional with over 23 years in the hospitality trade there is one thing I will never ever understand: Why do people with NO knowledge whatsover think they can run a restaurant/cafe/bar?? Would Gordon Ramsay ever think to open a plumbing business just because he likes DIY?? Absolutely mad, all of them. And then blaming their failure on Gordon. They got nerves..Good riddance to bad rubbish.

By Michael.. Posted April 3 2009 at 10:10 AM.

If you ask me, these restaurant owners (the majority) saw Gordon Ramsay as their ticket to success; not in what he could teach them, but by associating his name with their business. It is little wonder the majority of these restaurants failed. I for one would never have gone to eat in many of them as they were absolutely filthy and the prospect of food poisoning was shocking. These restaurant owners who are trying to pass the buck of blame should be ashamed of themselves.

By Victoria .. Posted April 3 2009 at 12:23 AM.

J Willy's might be shut, but on their website they thank Chef Gordon Ramsay for his help and blame their closure on the current economy...
I effin' love Gordon Ramsay.

By Therese.. Posted April 2 2009 at 6:26 PM.

I have actually been to the J. Willy's restaurant in Indiana prior to their close and met the owner. He was very thankful for Gordon's help and their menu that Gordon helped with was excellent (I am a student at Notre Dame). The owner was horribly sad that he had to close, but the restaurant had less than 10 people a day. The location, while at one point was great, is now horrible. You can still buy the sauce that Gordon created on the internet, though. I plan on bringing some back with me when I head home.

By Jess.. Posted April 2 2009 at 6:14 PM.

When you consider that those restaurants would have been in the recorded 40-50% of businesses that fail, based on the 1/3 that became successful after Mr. Ramsey's intervention, is most impressive -- even more so given the current economy.

By Vi.. Posted April 2 2009 at 4:59 AM.

The restaurants were going broke anyway... then Gordon stepped in... and after he left the restaurants crashed! I wonder why?? perhaps they didn't keep up with the recommendations... The restaurant in Paris.... that was a joke... the owner didn't even turn up one day.... she had NO idea...
I feel sorry for Gordon... I think he has had enough bad publicity and these people are going in for the kill... keep your chin up Gordon.... I still love watching your effing shows.....

By jodie.. Posted April 2 2009 at 4:45 AM.

Maybe the customers vanished because they saw how really bad the restaurant looked behind the scenes on the show and didn't want to risk their lives eating there any more. And I guess the show was about making out how truly awful things were to showcase just what a whizz-bang, you-beaut chef Gordon Ramsay is. Call me cynical, but any restaurant owner wanting to go on Kitchen Nightmares would be making a bad, bad, bad, not smart PR move - unless of course he was Gordon Ramsay.

By Megan.. Posted April 1 2009 at 12:43 PM.

the restaurants were going to shut down anyways...

By Pain.. Posted April 1 2009 at 12:41 PM.

You can take a horse to water but you cant make it drink it. These businesses needed major help . Gordon Ramsey did his best in the week he had, Obviously these people had a no go business from the start. You are only as good as your owner.

By Fran Berry.. Posted April 1 2009 at 10:48 AM.

Sour grapes. The programmes I saw showed most of the owners were lazy, talentless and clueless.

Ramsay has a proven track record and yet in each episode he has to battle against their ego's and overinflated opinions.

These people went bust because they were crap at what they did.

By jez.. Posted March 31 2009 at 12:09 PM.

Yeah i have to say I have watched 90% or more of all the shows as they are on repeats in canada at the mo and have to say the ones that are closed bar one or two is no suprise - some of the way the kitchens were ran - filth -laziness-no direction and a general unwanting to change plus with the climate of way things are in the UK its hardly suprising really

By louise.. Posted March 31 2009 at 12:09 AM.

Health and safety should have shut many of them anyway , how can anyone who can't even cook themselves open a restaurant...this is beyond me.
Surely the film crew are to be expected and yet they don't even clean ?
But does Gordon have to be so insulting to the owners on film by making them look small, no.
I won't forget when he called a welsh woman "shrek"...is it only me that thinks he's no oil painting , I know by insulting him I too could get a few laughs in front of my mates, and it would be personnal ...when you dish it out you have to be able to take it and he can't.

By kerry.. Posted March 30 2009 at 11:33 PM.

Health and safety should have shut many of them anyway , how can anyone who can't even cook themselves open a restaurant...this is beyond me.
Surely the film crew are to be expected and yet they don't even clean ?
But does Gordon have to be so insulting to the owners on film by making them look small, no.
I won't forget when he called a welsh woman "shrek"...is it only me that thinks he's no oil painting himself, I know by insulting him I too could get a few laughs in front of my mates, and it would be personnal ...when you dish it out you have to be able to take it and he can't.

By kerry.. Posted March 30 2009 at 11:18 PM.

gordon ramsay speaks his mind publicity is free if an owner or staff dont make an effort tough **** he tried to help and the day he left what happened the same as before he wasted his time and every one made money while he was there the problem is owners employ cheap staff and thats where it begins cheap produce high profits and hygiene is free so dont blame gordon blame yourself stay at home and learn to cook

By john kavanagh .. Posted March 30 2009 at 11:05 PM.

There wasn't one of the Kitchen Nightmare restaurants which should have been in business anyway. I have the qualifications to say so! That eight are still open considering the economic situation is not bad since many 'real' chefs with 'real' restaurants have had to close and lay off staff!
These losers are a bit rich blaming Ramsay for their INCOMPETENCE!

By Simon from Tasmania.. Posted March 30 2009 at 10:29 PM.

I've watched alot of these shows and we can all see how poorly run and unhygenic all these places are.
These people go on knowing what the shows about so to say their customers dislike Ramsay is silly.
Some people just arent willing to change or are too stubborn to see the real picture. Ramsay's built an empire so he must know what he's talking about and we see in the shows how people refuse to take heed of his advice. To say whos fault it is is unclear.

By Shannon.. Posted March 29 2009 at 9:54 PM.

of bonapartes - the owner had a petuchlant jumped up little brat in the kitchen, who didnt even know what 'food hygiene' means!!! i'm not suprised she shut because the kitchen was disgusting...gordon didnt do that, her poor management did!!

By becki.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:13 PM.

I don't know much about running a restaurant, but I do know that at the very least the kitchen should be clean, the chef should know how to cook and the staff/owner should be friendly and welcoming to the customers! Most of these people were already beyond help when Gordon arrived, so how can they blame him for their mistakes?

By mark.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:22 PM.

They were ALL failing anyway and having watched many programmes, he has managed to help save a few. A good percentage of the those that failed was clearly down to absolutely clueless owners, let's not even mention their egos.
I currently work in a declining (private and small) business (not a restaraunt) but the same problem exists. Clueless owner.
RJ.
expat in USA

By Ray Jarvis.. Posted March 29 2009 at 6:25 PM.

I adore Gordon! In these shows his team goes in and cleans the kitchen, decorates, and gives many of them NEW applicances and spends a lot of money.

Do they have to give everything back after one week? Of course they sell off the place. Its all re-done with a brand new decor and kitchen! Unless, it all goes back?

By Victoria from Las Vegas.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:04 PM.

I have watched the shows and I'm not surprised to hear some of the restaurants have shut down and it aient Ramsey's fault....amazes me how much people go into debt thinking they can run a business when they haven't a clue how it's done, can't believe even banks have lent them cash, explains why we're in recession!

By hema.. Posted March 29 2009 at 6:51 PM.

I've worked in restaurants most of my life. After watching these "restaurants" on Ramsay's show, it's not suprising that they failed after he left.

Most of the owner/managers were so full of themselves and too proud to take any advice whatsoever. They kept staff who had no interest in working for their paycheque.

Pretty sad, but what did they expect, to have Gordon babysit them for the rest of thier careers?

By Jim Pook.. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:26 PM.

Why do all these people blame someone else, they all go into business thinking its easy monie, catering is anything but, if you are not prepared to put in long hours and keep up with all the changes, then it chao.
Most of the restaurants are run by dummies, and dummy chefs. some have dirty kitchens, rotten food in the frideg, freezers, and they wonder why customers wont come back. wake up and smell the coffee.

By jake .. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:06 PM.

I'm very sceptical of the format.We only see what the producers decide and the truth is all these owners are loosers.

By Scarlet Black Jack.. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:50 PM.

Gordon, Gordon, Gordon

Keep up the good work!!!
The internal squabbling that seemed to be experienced from the staff to the so called Manager
Owners seemed to be present in all the establishments all sadly doomed to fail !!
All I had seen was arrogance and greed, Gordon is the first to admit he had lost businesses too!
Having watched most of the UK and US episodes, having Gordon for them all was a privilege not appreciated..

By Kaye.. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:33 PM.

I love the shows and find them entertaining. I am not phased by all the swearing because it is Gordon Ramsay afterall and that is what you come to expect.

I am not at all surprised that the restaurants have shut and find it laughable that the owners should take such offence at Gordon Ramsay. They contacted him to be on the show, should have had certain expectations of what was to come and be honest about how they got into such a mess in the first place.

Their ire is amusing

By Claire.. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:31 PM.

To Blame Gordon Ramsey is a joke, the restaurants both in the UK and States were in deep trouble to start with, and if these people dont take Gordons advice and expertise well its there own fault. Gordon has become so successful with his own restaurants so he is doing something right. Foul language is part of everyday life, if people dont want their children listening to his show dont let them. Not that they dont here alot at school. Ourselves thoroughly enjoy his show and wouldnt miss an episode. Keep up the good work Gordon.

By V Smith.. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:02 PM.

These places are basicly broke before he gets their so this isn't a shock

By John.. Posted March 29 2009 at 2:55 PM.

I've watched every single episode from both the UK and US series and one thing stands clear in them all - each restauranteur was clueless in running a business. When Ramsay and the crew enter a premises the business is already in dire straights with likely no more than a three month grace period before closing and many of the owners preferred to remain delusional instead of accepting the constructive criticism and changing. People NEED to feel confident in eating at an establishment and let's be honest, given the filth of these places, no one could truly claim that. The majority of those establishments would have been closed had the environmental health department witnessed the vile conditions/practices of the kitchens.

Once the week-long stint is over and relevant changes have been made, it is then up to the efforts of each establishment to maintain their business and clearly, it was beyond their capabilities so instead of addressing the issues which arose by their incompetence initially and which continued to the eventual conclusion, they prefer to foist the blame elsewhere. Poor food and even poorer management is a recipe for disaster as Love's and Handlebars discovered despite their arrogance to the contrary.

By Janie.. Posted March 29 2009 at 2:55 PM.

Not Gordon's fault!


I am a chef and I have watched all the kitchen nightmare episodes. ALL THE ESTABLISHMENTS WERE ALREADY IN TROUBLE. Gordon did his best to help them out. in this line of business the ships sink long before the holes appear.

By mark.. Posted March 29 2009 at 2:53 PM.

If this proves anything it's that virtually every person featured on the programme were completely clueless about running a restaraunt and that's what got them into trouble in the first place. Gordon helps them out and then they slip back into their old ways and fail.. Some people are beyond help and should have just got out of the business rather than deluding themselves and just looking for anyone else to blame apart from themselves.

By Ben.. Posted March 29 2009 at 11:59 AM.

Running a business isn't easy and for those people to blame Gordon, it's laughable. Why not blame the people who actually run the business and got these restaurants into the mess they were in in the first place. Gordon tried to help, but honestly, sometimes it's just too late for those places. This newspaper mustn't have any real stories to run coz it's obvious that they take a stupid comment from people who aren't willing to work hard at their restaurants, and turn it into a 'story'. After all, aren't they the ones who ran the story of the 'affair' that Gordon apparently had?? These people are just jealous of his success. After all he has how many successful restaurants and programmes, he knows what he's talking about!

By L.. Posted March 29 2009 at 11:35 AM.

Foul mouthed, jumped up, womanising prat and that's his good points!

By Dick Ray.. Posted March 29 2009 at 10:50 AM.

The first TV series was good but like everything else to do with Gordon Ramsay it got changed along the way and in this case became an entertainment format for him to swear constantly, no matter what the circumstances and despite the fact that he can't even swear properly. The whole premise is entirely false.
The people he was "saving" were no more than patsies there to look stupid and make him look good.

By billy.. Posted March 29 2009 at 10:39 AM.

i think u who thinks gordon ramsey swears to much should get a life!!! he speaks his mind and says the truth and of course u wouldnt want ur children listening to that thats why he is on after 9 if u did let them its ur fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By d from bolton.. Posted March 29 2009 at 9:34 AM.

In the US he saved just under 50% of the places he visited. which to be honest were all ready to go under. When you consider only a handfull of the places in the british series have gone under due to the credit crunch. I think Gordon is doing a great job.

By johnathan hutton.. Posted March 29 2009 at 9:16 AM.

What a bunch of idiots! All of these businesses where in major trouble before ramsey came in to help. A lot of them were In serious debt. Some of the best restaurants in the world have fallen under the crunch. These people all need to grow up and accept that this mess is of their own making. When a plant is half dead, watering it does not automatically resurrect it!!!

By Wendy jayne.. Posted March 29 2009 at 8:28 AM.

amazing... I wouldn't blame the people moaning, blame the editor, obviously has it in for Ramsey!!!! At least he tried to help them, and to be honest, if chip shops turn away people who just want to buy chips, as happened to me yesterday, it's no wonder they go bust. There aren't many good affordable restaurants out there these days. As for the press if you want to bring someone down through bad stories, why not focus on Jonathan Ross who really is dire, talentless and a waste of public money.

By clueless.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:46 AM.

Nothing to do with the credit crunch then, or the fact that some of these restaurants were shoddy?

By Jay.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:41 AM.

So the credit crunch has nothing to do with it then?

By m.. Posted March 29 2009 at 7:31 AM.

I think Gordon is great at what he does, if these businesses closed down its because half of them would not even come to work in their own restaurants, maybe they should look at the episodes where their restaurants featured and the real truth is told !!!

By Laura Walsh.. Posted March 29 2009 at 5:57 AM.

I change the chanel as soon as I see that idiot on my TV. Perth WA

By Edward.. Posted March 29 2009 at 5:10 AM.

Ramsay is an excellent chef but his foul language is unacceptable. Not everyone wants to hear the F word 20 times a minute and he just turns people off. I wouldn't want my children listening to his foul mouth. It's time for a change from Gordon Ramsay. He's played out and over exposed.

By Robert Colins.. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:36 AM.

I watched the episodes involving these restaurants and without exception every restaurant was run by incompetent and entirely dislikeable characters.

They were failing long before Ramsey turned up and were thousands of pounds in debt for the sole reason that those who ran the places were poor restauranteurs.

It's no wonder half the people who turned up at each and every restaurant's relaunch never returned after watching the show aired and seeing the appalling state most of these restaurants were in before the cameras arrived!!!! Would any customer return to these restaurants having seen the truly horrific way in which some of them were run and the sickening lack of hygiene?!!

You would think that, with the prospect of TV cameras possibly turning up some of them might've taken the time to clean their fridges, get rid of the rotten food and de-infest the places! But they cared so little about their restaurants' and their reputations that they let the cameras in to see the true disgusting mess their restaurants were in.

And then they expect people to turn up in droves after it's all been exposed on TV. They're just lucky health and safety didn't close them down for good regardless.

This isn't to mention the majority of these people were such disturbing characters never suited to the hospitality business. Once these awful characters were exposed to the world and their terrible ignorance and unhygienic practices revealed, was there any question people would return?!!

By Steven.. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:34 AM.

For gawd sake! They applied to go on the show! They asked for some help, They guy helped as much as he could.

I think these people think that when Ramsey comes in then all the worries are over! Welcome to the real world where people are going bust all over the place!

If your eating establishment was that good and well managed then you would not need the help of a top chef and a TV show so why turn around now and blame a guy who tried to help ffs!

By Michelle.. Posted March 29 2009 at 4:00 AM.

I'm glad that these restaurants shut, these people don't deserve to be in business, I 'm sure without Gordon Ramsay s help they would have been shut years ago. I mean the tv company must have spent a fortune for these places to get revamped, and a lot of gordon time and effort has gone into help these ungrateful people. Show some respect and take some responsibility for your own failures!!

By steve.. Posted March 29 2009 at 3:02 AM.

What is Ramsey supposed to do? Wave a magic wand and have these failing restaraunts running fantastically? It doesn't work like that and for people to blame him for their mistakes is idiotic.

It's obvious these places are struggling in the first place if they're calling for help. He'll come in and give them pointers and try to help them out. When the cameras are away it's upto them to take the advice on board and stop blaming others for their mistakes.

Non story.

By Anon.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:58 AM.

Gordon Ramsey, was asked for his help in saving these businesses and he did that, if the people who own these restaruants, can't be assed to do the work which is required to keep their businesses going that's just tough. Gordon Ramsey is good at what he does. Stop blaming Gordon.

By Lorna Wanstall.. Posted March 29 2009 at 2:00 AM.

All those business's were failing anyway even before he got there, a bad workman always blames his tools never himself

By Clint.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:46 AM.

Most of those resturants are FILTHY and the owners dont have a clue, like someone else said he is a chef not a magician.

By kelly.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:55 AM.

What a shower of pathetic idiots. They can't even take responisility for their failings. Embarrassing.

By Mike.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:44 AM.

A few new recipes and a menu makeover isn't going to make up for bad management. Its no wonder most of these restaurants encountered problems once Ramsay left them to their own devices. If you don't have a good business plan then of course you're going to fail. From watching the show its very obvious that these restaurants cash in on the fact that Gordon Ramsay is in their midst. What do they honestly think will happen once Gordon is gone and is no longer watching what they do? Of course customers are going to cease darkening their doors when the food standard slips and the staff are back to their surly ways. It all comes down to bad management.

By Kate.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:24 AM.

For gods sake he is a chef not a Magician

By john.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:24 AM.

Aren't all the restaurants he depicts in dire straights though? And also there is a credit crunch at the moment. Already dire straights+credit crunch=?????


What is Ramsay supposed to be? Houdini?

By Joe.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:24 AM.

Not the current economic climate then????

By Rick Grundy.. Posted March 29 2009 at 12:07 AM.

its so so easy for these people to blame anyone but themselves. someone came and tried to help them, it was a last resort to have the programme come and help them, but they saw it as a 100% miracle cure..

try blaming yourselves for a change.

By Mike.. Posted March 28 2009 at 11:30 PM.

Ramsay isn't the cure to everything at the end of the day it was up to these people to take the advice on board and interpret it as they saw fit. The stubbornness, negativity and blinkered attitudes some of the people at the (now shut) restaurants that you mentioned were unbelievable. Even as a member of 'Joe Public'watching the programme for entertainment could see that quite a few would either go back to their old ways or cling like a limpet to Ramsay to fix their problems.

Frankly some people just don't have the bottle. Not all change is good, granted, but there is some truth in the fact that everything happens for a reason......

By orangina.. Posted March 28 2009 at 10:21 PM.