Michael Winner’s impartiality questioned in the von Essen scandal

The media are circulating the remains of the fallen empire of tycoon Andrew Davis and his von Essen Hotels.  His hotel portfolio fell into liquidation in April 2011, but as further details emerge, questions are being raised about how many people, including Britain’s biggest Restaurant critic, Michael Winner, were taken in by the hype.

In an article by Stephen Robinson for The London Evening Standard on 31 May 2011, he writes how the rise of Andrew Davis involved “his own chutzpah, aggressive public relations, gullible media cheerleaders and stupid bankers.”  Brought into the mire is Michael Winner, one of Andrew Davis’s and von Essen’s  greatest supporters who used his Sunday Times “Winners Dinners” column to regular write rapturous  reviews on von Essen hotel restaurants between 2008 and 2011. He even voted them as the best UK Hotel Group in November 2009. The group also served as the main sponsor of the Sunday Times Rich List in 2009 and 2010.

At odds with media hype were the rapidly declining fortunes of the von Essen hotels, with many properties unable to afford basic running repairs. Design Restaurants (now Luxury Restaurant Guide) had been informed that one illustrious and former Michelin-rated property had allegedly been unable to offer a tasting menu due to lack of crockery sets.  Quality suppliers either deserted von Essen or put up with grossly unfair payment terms.

Pictured, Cliveden which was part of von Essen portfolio

London Evening Standard – 31 May, 2011

Cliveden’s latest scandal and how its tycoon owner duped the banks and London society

The Sunday Times – 27 December, 2009

Michael Winner reviews Homewood Park, near Bath

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