Soho House's Shoreditch Club Under Council Investigation Over Alleged Food Safety Failures

Hackney Council has launched an investigation into food safety and hygiene practices at Shoreditch House, one of the London outposts of the private members' club chain Soho House, following allegations from a former employee about rats on the premises and out-of-date food being served to customers.

The investigation was triggered after Kamran Khan, a 30-year-old who worked at the venue while on probation, reported his concerns to the local authority. A council spokesperson confirmed: "We have received a report about food safety and hygiene at Shoreditch House and have opened an investigation." The probe places one of the capital's most recognisable hospitality brands under formal scrutiny by environmental health regulators.

Khan, who has held several roles across the catering and hospitality sector, told BBC News that he was instructed to replace date labels on prepared food that had not been sold by the end of each trading day. He alleged that the practice was presented to him as a routine expectation rather than an occasional lapse.

According to Khan, the pressure to comply was explicit. He said he was warned during a probation meeting that if he did not change labels on his own initiative, the matter would be treated as a performance concern. He described feeling that his job security depended on continuing a practice he believed to be unlawful.

British food safety regulations require that food served in restaurants carry accurate labelling, including a best-before or use-by date. Altering those dates can mask the point at which food becomes unsafe to eat, raising the risk of foodborne illness for diners. Khan said he felt compelled to speak up precisely because of who he saw eating at the restaurant.

"I told them that I don't want to be held personally liable for anyone that gets injured," he said, noting that he observed many children and pregnant women among the venue's patrons. Those groups are generally considered more vulnerable to complications from food-related illnesses.

Khan first voiced his concerns informally before lodging a formal complaint with Soho House in July. On 24 August, following an internal investigation, the company informed him that there was evidence supporting his claim and that steps were being taken to address the issue. Despite those assurances, Khan said the re-labelling continued, prompting him to escalate the matter to Hackney Council.

His employment at Shoreditch House was terminated in September, roughly two months after he first raised the issue. Soho House said the decision was entirely unrelated to his complaints about food labelling, without providing further detail on the reasons for the dismissal. The timing is likely to attract scrutiny from employment lawyers and union representatives who track whistleblowing cases in the hospitality industry.

In addition to the labelling allegations, Khan said rats had been present at the venue for a prolonged period and that cleaning staff were required to check for rat droppings on a daily basis. Soho House declined to comment specifically on the rats claim when approached by BBC News.

A spokesperson for the company apologised for the food incident, stating: "This is not how we expect our houses to operate and it is not company policy." The spokesperson added that an external, independent investigation and audit had been carried out, and emphasised that "delivering the highest level of food safety for our members and guests is incredibly important to us."

Soho House occupies a prominent position in the global hospitality market. Founded in London in 1995, the group now operates 46 clubs across Europe, North America and Asia, alongside a portfolio of other upmarket hospitality businesses. Membership carries a monthly fee starting at £291.67, or £204.17 for members under 27, underscoring its positioning as a premium lifestyle brand.

The chain has long been associated with celebrity culture. The Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reported to have had their first date at one of its London venues, and Shoreditch House is one of ten Soho House locations in the capital. That high profile means allegations of this nature carry reputational as well as regulatory consequences.

Soho House listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, but its share price fell sharply in subsequent years as the company struggled to deliver sustained profits and faced criticism that it was diluting the exclusivity central to its brand. In 2024, it was acquired by a consortium of investors in a deal valued at approximately £2bn, with actor Ashton Kutcher joining the board.

The council investigation will examine whether the venue's food safety and hygiene arrangements meet legal requirements. Depending on its findings, Hackney Council could issue improvement notices, impose hygiene ratings penalties or, in more serious cases, pursue enforcement action. Environmental health teams typically review labelling records, storage practices and pest control documentation as part of such inquiries.

The case also highlights broader questions about worker protections in hospitality, where staff on probation may be reluctant to report unsafe practices for fear of losing their jobs. Khan's decision to take his concerns to a regulator rather than rely solely on internal processes reflects a growing willingness among employees to seek outside oversight when they believe employers have failed to act.

Soho House has not commented on the status of the council investigation or on whether any changes have been made at Shoreditch House since the allegations emerged. The company maintains that the labelling incident was isolated and that re-labelling unsold food is not company policy.