Hell's Kitchen star Jean-Christophe Novelli has quit his role as chef-patron and director at Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire and has issued a writ for late payment of fees. 

The celebrity chef said he had been unable to agree terms for the renewal his three-year contract with the company whose restaurants include Auberge du Lac at Brockett Hall and Novelli in the City at the London Capital Club.

He added that late payments to himself and to suppliers had been a persistent problem over the past two years.

“I finally decided enough is enough,” said Novelli. “It is time to move on to a new challenge. I have managed to turn Auberge around financially and put the place on the world map.” 

Andrew Hepburn, director and general manager at Brocket Hall, branded the writ as a “petulant” and “absurd” course of action and insisted the money had been paid to Novelli’s agent – a claim the chef refutes. 

Hepburn added that the company had decided not to renew the contract because, “we really felt we needed a more hands-on chef – he was hardly there”.

Novelli, who said he was in charge of the kitchens at four different establishments along with the public relations function, blasted this charge as unfair.

By Angela Frewin

Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.