Dan Doherty leaves The Royal Oak and Rhubarb cuts ties over misconduct allegations

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The Royal Oak gastropub and catering company Rhubarb have both cut ties with chef Dan Doherty after he was reportedly accused of sexual harassment by staff.

The Marylebone pub, which Doherty opened last year, said he had left with 'immediate effect'. 

"We will not be making any further comment about the reported incidents," The Royal Oak said in a statement. "Our focus is on the wellbeing of our team and business."

Rhubarb, which hired Doherty to consult on one of its upcoming New York restaurants last May, said this afternoon it was no longer working with the chef.

Rhubarb CEO P.B. Jacobse said in a statement: “We have decided to end our consultancy agreement with Dan Doherty in view of the allegations of improprieties made against Mr. Doherty.”

Doherty also announced today he has stepped away from series two of the BBC series Britain's Best Home Cook, which he appeared on as a judge last year.

It follows a report in The Sunday Times that Doherty was found guilty of “misconduct” at his Marylebone pub The Royal Oak after an investigation last year.

The Sunday Times reports Doherty was investigated by external firm HR180 over claims he had “harassed female staff by asking for sexual intercourse and oral sex” at The Royal Oak in 2018.

The chef apologised to staff and said in a statement that he would ‘never intentionally make offensive comments to anyone I work with, female or male’.

Two former employees allege that four female staff members left The Royal Oak as a result of his actions last year.