Ramsay said Christopher Hutcheson used a ghost writer machine to forge his signature on a document which made him the personal guarantor for the £640,000-a-year rent of the York & Albany pub near Regent’s Park.
The chef claimed he therefore should not be held responsible for the 25-year lease of the pub, which was signed in 2007.
Hutcheson had been employed as chief executive officer of Ramsay’s restaurant empire until he was sacked in 2010.
'Implausible'
However, in a High Court ruling today, Justice Morgan dismissed as “entirely implausible” Ramsay’s claim that he did not know the machine was being used for the lease. Ramsay claimed he thought it was only used to sign books.
“I find that Mr Ramsay knew, long before the entry into the agreement for lease and the lease of the premises, that the machine was routinely used to place his signature on legal documents. I do not accept his evidence to the contrary,” Justice Morgan said.
He added: “Mr Hutcheson was acting within the wide general authority conferred on him by Mr Ramsay at all times until Mr Hutcheson’s dismissal in October 2010.
“Mr Ramsay may now regret the transaction in relation to the premises. He may particularly regret his involvement as a guarantor.
“He may consider that Mr Hutcheson did a bad deal. However, on my findings, he is not able to say that Mr Hutcheson exceeded his authority in any respect.
“I hold that Mr Ramsay, acting through his agent Mr Hutcheson, is bound by the guarantee in the lease of the premises.”