Hackney Council Investigates Soho House Shoreditch Over Food Safety Claims

Hackney Council has initiated an investigation into Shoreditch House, a private members' club operated by Soho House, after receiving a health and safety complaint concerning food safety and hygiene. The inquiry follows allegations made by a former employee on social media platform TikTok.

Allegations of Food Mislabelling

The former employee, who used the TikTok account "Soho House Opp", claimed they were dismissed from the Shoreditch location after raising concerns about food labelling. The individual alleged that staff were changing labels to disguise out-of-date food being served to customers. According to the former employee, an initial internal complaint was not adequately addressed, leading them to report the issue to the council before their contract was terminated.

It is a legal requirement in the UK to ensure all food sold to consumers is safe and fit for consumption. While food past its 'best before' date may still be of acceptable quality, selling food beyond its 'use-by' date is illegal.

Soho House Response and Previous Ratings

A spokesperson for Soho House stated that the termination of the former employee's contract was for reasons entirely separate from their complaint about food safety. The company has issued an apology for the incident, describing it as an isolated occurrence.

Soho House has confirmed it has launched its own internal investigation, involving its director of health and safety and an external consultant. The spokesperson emphasised the importance of food safety for members and guests, noting that Shoreditch House has consistently achieved the highest food hygiene rating of 5 from environmental health inspections. This rating was reportedly confirmed in an independent audit conducted the previous week.

Hackney Council confirmed it is reviewing the health and safety complaint and has opened an investigation into the matter at Shoreditch House.