Zoe Lazenby was left bewildered by a letter stating that she was ineligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance. Having worked as a waitress at the renowned Park House restaurant in Cardiff for nearly two years until its closure in March, she was shocked to discover that her recent national insurance contributions were insufficient according to the government’s online system.
Upon further investigation, Ms. Lazenby found that her employment record for the 2021-22 financial year showed no contributions from paid work. To her surprise, there was no evidence of her time at Park House on her income tax page either. “The wages I received were after-tax, so the deductions were made. But I have no idea where they went,” she explained.
Ms. Lazenby is among 12 former front-of-house workers and chefs who claim that Park House and its owner, Adam Pledger, owe them a total of £25,000 in unpaid wages. These allegations range from a “toxic” work environment to grueling shifts and unreliable pay. Some claims even date back to the restaurant’s launch in 2005. Sommelier Robert Giorgione, who worked there previously, expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s truly appalling how people were treated. All my former colleagues feel the same way. It was a disaster waiting to happen, and I’m shocked that Adam managed to get away with it for so long.”
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Despite attempts to obtain comments from Mr. Pledger, he has not responded. A spokesperson for Park House previously stated, “Due to legal reasons, we cannot comment on individual cases, but we do refute the contents of this article,” in response to earlier reporting on the matter.
Subsequent interviews with five additional former staff members have shed light on further issues, including bullying, discrepancies in tax, chaotic dealings with suppliers, and inconsistent payment. These allegations paint a grim picture of the restaurant’s operations.
Park House, which operated in a Grade-I listed Victorian mansion designed by renowned architect William Burges on Park Place, Cardiff, experienced a significant decline. Despite its previous reputation as one of Cardiff’s top dining establishments, it garnered a darker reputation within the hospitality industry. Mr. Pledger, a 44-year-old former marine biologist known for his extensive knowledge of wine and flamboyant style, seemed to relish the accolades and awards received by Park House, including its listing in the Michelin Guide and possession of two AA rosettes. However, behind the scenes, employees would make grim jokes like, “I wonder if we’re getting paid this month,” while Mr. Pledger entertained friends at the venue.
Former employees claim that Mr. Pledger never provided a satisfactory explanation for the consistent delays in wage payments, attributing them vaguely to business struggles. Nathan Brown, who served as head chef at Park House over a decade ago, questioned how such difficulties could be reconciled with the restaurant’s purchases of imported ingredients like chicken from France, truffles from Italy, and salmon from Scotland. He added, “Adam had one of the best wine cellars in Cardiff, with bottles worth £700. He even had his wedding at Park House, which would have made everyone in the city jealous.”