Heston Blumenthal urges Companies House to act on rise in fake firms

Restaurateur and chef Heston Blumenthal OBE has called for greater urgency in tackling fraud on Companies House. 

The news comes after an investigation revealed that more than 750 fake firms used established restaurant names after being set up in the past six weeks. 

Blumenthal’s business was one of those targeted, and as a result, he wrote to Louise Smyth, CEO at Companies House and Registrar for England and Wales, asking for greater transparency on how the organisation is tackling the issue.  

According to the celebrity chef, failing to move swiftly could lead to as many as 9,750 restaurants being victims of fraud over an 18-month period.

As the reputations and legacies of a wide range of restaurants is at stake, Blumenthal has asked for a faster response from Companies House to help the hospitality industry, which is already struggling with the aftermath of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. 

Blumenthal said: “Our legal team has been scanning the Companies Register for years and has regularly needed to notify Companies House of bogus companies claiming to be part of our group.

“The process for removing fake companies has to be speeded up and made easier. We need greater transparency from Companies House and a clear timeline. In some cases where it is being reported, it can take up to 18 months to rectify. Checks by Companies House on the identity of people registering companies would reduce the risk of frauds and be a major help for restaurants and other businesses facing problems with fraudsters.”

He added: “The protection of our brands is absolutely paramount to our customers, our partners and our teams who excel every day in our kitchens and restaurants. We will not allow fraudsters to deceive unsuspecting patrons or partners and risk the legacy which we have collectively built with hard work, dedication, innovation and a grain of eccentricity.”