Dan Doherty leaves Royal Oak pub after misconduct allegations

30-Jan-2019 - Last updated on 30-Jan-2019 at 10:22 GMT

Chef departs: Dan Doherty took the Royal Oak on last year but is no longer working there (image credit: Google Maps)

Gastropub chef Dan Doherty has left the Royal Oak in Marylebone, central London, following accusations of sexual harassment by staff.

The Marylebone pub, which Doherty opened last year, said he had left and it would not be saying any more on the subject.

The Morning Advertiser sister publication Big Hospitality reported a statement from the Royal Oak said: “We can confirm that Dan Doherty is no longer working at the Royal Oak with immediate effect.

“We will not be making any further comment about the reported incidents. Our focus is on the wellbeing of our team and business.”

Allegations of improprieties

Catering company Rhubarb hired Doherty to consult on one of its New York restaurants in May last year, also said it was no longer working with the pub chef.

Big Hospitality also reported Rhubarb CEO PB Jacobse said in a statement: “We have decided to end our consultancy agreement with Dan Doherty in view of the allegations of improprieties made against Doherty.”

Doherty announced this week (28 January) he had stepped away from series two of the BBC series Britain’s Best Home Cook, which he has appeared as a judge.

Mistakes

This followed reports in The Sunday Times that Doherty was investigated by external firm HR180 about claims he had “harassed female staff by asking for sexual intercourse and oral sex” at the Royal Oak in 2018.

Doherty, who had also previously been a chef at the 24-hour Duck & Waffle at the Heron Tower in the City of London, posted on Twitter: “In the wake of the recent newspaper reports, I have decided to step away from series two of Britain’s Best Home Cook. I loved my experience of working on the show and wish it every continued success.

“I want to say sorry. There are mistruths in what was published but I have made mistakes, mistakes I am truly sorry for.”

In the wake of the recent newspaper reports, I’ve decided to step away from series two of Britain’s Best Home Cook. I loved my experience of working on the show and wish it every continued success.
— Dan Doherty (@DanDoherty_) January 28, 2019

I want to say sorry. There are mistruths in what was published but I have made mistakes, mistakes I truly am sorry for.
— Dan Doherty (@DanDoherty_) January 28, 2019