JOHN Burton Race will re-open his Michelin-starred New Angel restaurant in Devon after receiving backing from an internet millionaire.
The restaurant, in Dartmouth, was famously closed by his wife estranged Kim last November while Burton Race was battling snakes, bugs and – perhaps worse still – ‘lovable’ Geordie duo Ant and Dec in ITV’s jungle reality show I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!
He had bought the New Angel with Kim three years ago, but last March the chef walked out on her and his six kids.
The restaurant fell into the hands of administrators following the move by Kim – who he is in the process of divorcing – to shut up shop, but the backing of internet millionaire Clive Jacobs has convinced Burton Race the restaurant can be up-and-running again by easter.
Burton Race said repayment of the restaurant’s debts will be funded by the sale of the New Angel bed and breakfast rooms, which remain on sale for about £700,000 – a sum which will allow the chef to comfortably pay off debts worth around £180,000.
Burton Race said: "Once the rooms are sold everyone is going to be paid back in full; I`m certainly not insolvent. I am more than excited about the prospect.
"It has been a lot of hard work, we are doing 12-hour days because we haven`t got a lot of time but it is a brilliant feeling."
Clive Jacobs – the man behind internet success stories lastminute.com and hoildayautos.com – has backed Burton Race in the past when he was at Berkshire restaurant L’Ortolan.
Mr Jacobs, who owns an estate in Chagford and a game shoot near Plymouth, made his fortune with the internet companies lastminute.com and holidayautos.com.
He previously backed the chef when Burton Race was at the restaurant L`Ortolan in Berkshire.