March 2010 Archives

Bartlett Mitchell is once again the subject of Chinese whispers apparently.

According to the Monday morning grapevine, managing director Wendy Bartlett has sold the business to rival contract caterer ISS Eaton.

But this latest rumour appears to be unfounded.

Wendy laughed when she asked me who she was meant to have sold to this week.

Simon Titchener, managing director at the 'purchaser' ISS Eaton says the rumour probably arose because of a random seating plan that sat the pair together at the recent BHA Food & Service Management Forum dinner at the top of the Gherkin.

"I can only imagine someone put two and two together and made 120!" he added.

Bartlett says she was also reckoned to have sold to BaxterStorey just last week, after she was spotted chatting with William Baxter. Before that it was Compass Group.

Any takers on who she might 'sell' to next?

Chelsea and England football player Frank Lampard is heading for the high courts over a story in The Sun newspaper which alleged he "sabotaged" TV cookery show Marco Pierre White's Burnout.

The story claimed Lampard had behaved in a petty manner by pulling out of the show and persuading the whole Chelsea team to follow suit because his ex fiancée Elen Rivas was also due to make an appearance, according to the Press Gazette.

The 31-year-old has filed a claim in the High Court over the Sun story from 26 January, which was headlined "Visit El's kitchen? Er... no Franks!", and a web version headed "Lampard: It's Murder for Elern's Show. Exclusive."

Lampard argues that story injured his reputation, and caused him considerable hurt, distress and embarrassment. He is seeking an injunction banning the paper from repeating the allegations at the centre of his claim, in addition to damages and aggravated damages.