Re10 administrators appointed to Shilpa Shetty's restaurant chain

ADMINISTRATORS FROM RE10 have been called to Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's restaurant chain V8 Gourmet.

The Celebrity Big Brother winner Shetty (pictured) owns 30% of the London-based restaurant business. She pumped £6 million into the group in 2009, before stepping down as a director at the end of 2010.

Finbarr O'Connell and Nimish Patel, partners at Re10, were appointed joint administrators.

Patel said: "We are continuing to trade V8 Gourmet and the sites of the sub brands, until such time that we can see a way forward for all elements of the business.

"At present no changes are to be made, and we are working hard to secure the jobs of all 264 employees. We are at an advanced stage of discussions with an interested party with regard to the business."

In May 2011 HM Revenue & Customs petitioned for a winding-up order.

Gourmet Creations and V8 Gourmet was producing a range of ready-meals and chutneys sold in outlets such as Tesco. Restaurants such as Bombay Bicycle club, Tiffinbites, VAMA and airline catering arm Khana were part of V8 Gourmet.

(picture: Sonu Bahl www.flickr.com/photos/bahlsonu)