City law firm launches investigation into £1,000 bill to 'disrespected' waitress at Lee Skeet's Cora
A City law firm has launched a formal investigation after some of its top lawyers allegedly behaved disrespectfully towards a restaurant worker while dining at chef Lee Skeet's Cora restaurant in Cardiff.
The incident made headlines last week after Skeet posted on social media about having banned a group of diners who were rude to his 22-year-old staff member Lily Griffiths.
The chef said he had given the entire proceeds of the group's £1,000 tab – the "biggest bill" his site had ever seen racked up for a single table – to the front of house worker after she reported having been "talked down to, disrespected and touched unwantedly".
The chef later clarified that the unwanted touching had not been sexual in nature.
He told The Caterer the group had arrived late for their booking last Wednesday evening and "were rude from the second they got there and kept talking down" to his employee. After they had left the premises, Skeet sent an email complaining about the group's behaviour to one of the party, who has since been reported to be an employee at Ince – an international law and professional services firm with a 150-year heritage and offices around Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
The table of customers in question was made up of high-flying Ince staff who were in Cardiff for a two-day management meeting, according to The Telegraph.
A spokesperson for Ince told The Caterer: "The company has been made aware of allegations in the media in relation to senior staff attending a dinner on Wednesday evening.
"The Independent Directors have therefore initiated a formal investigation. While it is ongoing it would be inappropriate to comment further."
Griffiths told Wales Online she was spoken to in a "humiliating" way, and had to endure a "demeaning attitude" while serving the group a seven-course meal.
She said: "I was even told to 'stick my schnoz in that' after they complained about one of the wines I served them over the seven-course tasting menu."
The restaurant manager also told BBC Radio Wales that she is "proud" of her boss for "calling out rich people".
"You don't need to be a man in a suit for respect – it's a mutual thing. Everyone deserves respect," she said. "Just because I'm a young lady in the restaurant manager role it doesn't mean that I deserve any less respect."
Skeet was formerly head chef at Michelin-starred Hedone in London and his career includes time as sous chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, chef de partie at Marcus Wareing Restaurants and sous chef at Restaurant Tom Aikens in London.
In 2017, he was severely injured in a hit and run, leaving him unable to work and out of the kitchen for four years. During the pandemic he began running a supper club from his living room, which evolved into Cora.
Skeet has that this whole experience has been "hell", but that he "couldn't be more proud" of how Griffiths has dealt with the incident.
