Gordon Ramsay to feel the heat of NZ court

Gordon Ramsay. Photo / Supplied

Foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is set to stand trial in New Zealand for allegedly causing an events company to lose $2.2 million by cancelling his appearance at sold-out charity events here.

Ramsay, who charged a $100,000 appearance fee, was to take part in three charity dinners in the main centres in June, but postponed the tour until October when his mother suffered a minor heart attack. He then cancelled the October dates because he wanted to stay in Britain to sort out business matters.

Lawyers for the two parties held a telephone conference in the High Court at Auckland today and a trial date was set for August 13, next year.

The complainant's lawyer Damian Chesterman said Ramsay would be expected to attend the trial, which was scheduled for nine days.

The dinners were to have raised money for a New Zealand girl living in the United States, Matisse Reid, who suffers from an intestinal disorder meaning she cannot eat and requires costly treatment.

Duco Events was forced to refund about 1600 tickets.

Company director David Higgins said he was very pleased Ramsay would have to answer for his actions in a New Zealand court.

"We have a very strong case and we're going to see this through right to the end of the legal process."

The notoriously temperamental chef is the host of television shows Hell's Kitchen, The F Word and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.

- NZPA