'Nothing but respect' - Government advisor apologises over 'disgusting' comments on restaurants
One of the Government’s most senior business advisors has apologised for her comments on the hospitality industry which were branded ‘disgusting’ by critics.
Alexandra Depledge was in conversation with a journalist at the sister title of The Yorkshire Post - Insider Media - when she was pressed on the state of the economy.
Drawn on where the country should focus its efforts in a bid to ensure success, Depledge, who hails from Bradford, said: “We do not need any more restaurants. I’m not anti-hospitality but that’s not where my efforts are.”
Her comments were branded ‘disgusting’ by night time economy tsar and nightclub owner Sacha Lord.
But she has now spoken out and apologised for the ‘upset caused’.
Depledge, who is the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship Advisor, said: “I recognise that some of the remarks reported from this interview have caused concern, particularly among those working in hospitality.
“That was not my intention, and I’m sorry for the upset caused.
“I started working in hospitality at the age of 13 doing everything from waitress to back of kitchen to bar tender and have nothing but respect for the sector and the people who work incredibly hard within it.
“The hospitality sector is vital to our economy and to local communities. My focus as the Chancellor’s Entrepreneurship Advisor is on how we also create and scale more high‑growth businesses across the whole UK, so we can generate better‑paid, more secure jobs for the future alongside the jobs we have today.”
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Her comments and subsequent apology comes a month after TheYorkshire Post produced an exclusive deep-dive piece of analysis into the pressures facing the hospitality sector.
Tommy Banks, who runs the Michelin-starred Black Swan in Oldstead and the Abbey in Byland, then told this newspaper that hospitality was already at crisis point. These latest comments will likely only further cement the view of Mr Banks.
At the heart of Ms Depledge’s thinking was that SMEs in this country are risk averse, suggesting that in order for real growth to be realised, British investors must seek to replicate the ambition of their Silicon Valley counterparts who would not hesitate to ‘take bets’ on edgy tech start-ups and fledgling digital disrupters.