Gordon Ramsay has sold his flagship restaurant on Hollywood’s
legendary Sunset Strip less than a year after its glittering opening.

Business had become so slow that on some days staff outnumbered customers.

‘The
economy is hurting everyone and Gordon is no exception,’ said a source
at the restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood.

‘When
it opened, we were told he wanted to dominate the Hollywood restaurant
scene because that would lead to his conquering America.

‘In
Hollywood, everyone expects the star chef to be there. Gordon was
simply stretched too thin with his television commitments and his other
restaurants.

‘People would come in and ask for him and it was embarrassing to have to tell them he wasn’t here.

A
lot of staff are unhappy. They gave up excellent jobs because they
wanted to work for Gordon Ramsay in the jewel of his empire.’

The
110-seat restaurant has been sold to LXR Luxury Resorts, owner of The
London West Hollywood hotel, although Ramsay’s name will remain on it
while he retains ‘creative’ control.

A spokeswoman for the
hotel said: ‘The day-to-day operation of the restaurant now belongs to
the hotel. Mr Ramsay will continue to be involved in menu development,
culinary selection and service.’

He recently suffered a similar closure to the one in Hollywood.

He sold his restaurant in Prague – Maze at the Hilton in Prague’s Old Town – back to the hotel.

His UK empire has also suffered in the credit crunch.

Sold: Gordon Ramsay cannot afford to keep his restaurant in The London West Hollywood

The
Michelin-starred La Noisette at London’s Jumeirah Carlton Tower Hotel
recently closed and his contract to run the restaurant at London’s
Connaught Hotel ended last year.

His famed Petrus restaurant, where bankers once spent £44,000 on a single meal, is also currently closed.

Last week it was revealed his company, Gordon Ramsay Holdings, had breached its banking covenants made to secure a loan.