Soho House's Shoreditch Club Faces Council Probe Over Food Safety Claims

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club Soho House, following allegations from a former employee about rats on the premises and the relabelling of out-of-date prepared food.

The council confirmed it had received a report and opened a formal investigation. "We have received a report about food safety and hygiene at Shoreditch House and have opened an investigation," a council spokesperson said, without providing further detail on the scope or expected timeline of the inquiry.

The claims were brought by Kamran Khan, a 30-year-old former staff member who worked at the venue while on probation. Khan told BBC News that he was pressured to replace date labels on prepared food that had not sold by the end of the day, an allegation that, if substantiated, would represent a serious breach of UK food hygiene regulations.

According to Khan, the pressure came with an explicit threat to his employment prospects. He said he was told during a probation meeting that if he did not change the labels on his own initiative, the matter would be treated as a performance concern. "I told them that I don't want to be held personally liable for anyone that gets injured," Khan said, explaining his motivation for speaking out.

Khan said he felt compelled to act because of the clientele he observed at the restaurant, which included many children and pregnant women — groups particularly vulnerable to foodborne illness. He first raised his concerns informally before filing a formal complaint with Soho House in July.

The company investigated the complaint and, on 24 August, told Khan there was evidence supporting his claim and that steps were being taken to address the matter. However, Khan alleged the practice continued despite those assurances, prompting him to escalate the issue to Hackney Council rather than wait for internal remedies.

Khan's employment was terminated in September, roughly two months after he first raised concerns. Soho House has stated that the termination was entirely unrelated to his complaints about food labelling, an assertion the company reiterated in its response to BBC News.

Beyond the labelling allegations, Khan also claimed that rats had been present at the venue for a considerable period and that cleaning staff were instructed to check for rat droppings on a daily basis. Soho House did not comment on the rats claim when approached by the BBC.

In response to the broader allegations, a Soho House spokesperson apologised and said the behaviour described did not reflect how the company expects its venues to operate. "This is not how we expect our houses to operate and it is not company policy," the spokesperson said, adding that an external, independent investigation and audit had been conducted.

The company emphasised its commitment to hygiene standards, saying: "Delivering the highest level of food safety for our members and guests is incredibly important to us." It also repeated that the former employee's contract had been terminated for reasons wholly unrelated to food labelling.

Under UK law, food served in restaurants must carry accurate labelling, including best-before or use-by dates. Altering those dates can mask food that has passed safe consumption limits, potentially exposing diners to serious health risks. Local authorities are responsible for enforcing food safety regulations and can take action ranging from improvement notices to prosecution in severe cases.

The investigation adds a reputational challenge for Soho House, a brand long associated with celebrity culture and exclusivity. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly had their first date at one of its London venues, and the group has built its identity around curated, members-only spaces.

Shoreditch House is one of ten Soho House locations in London. Membership costs from £291.67 per month, with a reduced rate of £204.17 for members under 27, reflecting the group's premium positioning in the hospitality market.

Founded in London in 1995, Soho House has expanded to 46 clubs across Europe, North America and Asia, alongside a portfolio of other upmarket hospitality businesses. The company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, but its share price fell sharply in subsequent years as it struggled to turn a profit and faced accusations that it was diluting the exclusivity central to its appeal.

In a significant ownership change, the company was acquired last year by a consortium of investors in a deal valued at approximately £2bn, with actor Ashton Kutcher joining its board. The sale marked a new chapter for the group as it sought to stabilise its finances and refine its growth strategy.

The outcome of Hackney Council's investigation remains uncertain, but the case highlights the importance of internal whistleblowing channels and the role of local authorities in holding hospitality businesses accountable. For Soho House, the probe poses questions about oversight at individual venues and how corporate policies translate into daily practice on the ground.