A HIGH court injunction has been granted to stop a local restaurant trading under the name of celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. The chef was previously a shareholder and consultant to The White Horse in Harpenden and another gastro-pub in Steppingly

A HIGH court injunction has been granted to stop a local restaurant trading under the name of celebrity chef Jean-Christophe Novelli. The chef was previously a shareholder and consultant to The White Horse in Harpenden and another gastro-pub in Steppingly, both of which were managed by a company called Sweet Medicine which ceased trading in January. A new management company, Urban & Country Leisure, took over but it continued to use Mr Novelli’s name even though he was no longer affiliated with the venue. Concerned that the public were being misled, the chef applied for an interim injunction preventing it from using his name in any signage, marketing and promotional material. The new management company agreed to the injunction and was told by the High Court to immediately remove all signage and any mention of Novelli on the menus. They were given seven days to remove the frosted glass panes in the restaurant. Mr Novelli said: “This whole episode has been very upsetting. “I am glad to say that many of my loyal staff have now joined me at my new Novelli’s’ restaurant at the Hotel Lorcrimar in Puerto Benus, Spain and at my restaurant, Dunham Novelli Urban Bar Kitchen in Northampton.” Mr Novelli also stressed that he had no control or direct involvement with previous owners Sweet Medicine and that he was upset that people were led to believe he did. He has also discovered that vouchers for The White Horse restaurant were sold by Sweet Medicine and could not be honoured by the new managers but he promised to honour the vouchers at his new restaurant if presented with the dated proof of purchase. Mr Novelli’s solicitor, Dean Dunham, who is also his business partner at the new restaurant, said: “After the Novelli head offices had been inundated with increasing complaints, he had no other course of action but to issue proceedings in the High Court to protect his good name and the general public.” Urban & Country Leisure operations manager Dan Shotton said: “All references to Mr Novelli have been removed other than two pieces of glass within the pub, which are being changed this week. This includes internal and external signage, point of sale, napkin and bill holders and a new website.”